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Experts are warning dog owners to not panic after five dogs in an Oregon animal sanctuary were sent to emergency rooms and one died from an outbreak of pneumonia. "Because of the amount of outpouring love and support, all of our vet expenses have been covered, we purchased four at-home oxygen chambers, plus a new quarantine facility to put on the sanctuary." An Oregon-based animal sanctuary is praising some of its TikTok followers for quickly stepping in to help with vet bills after more than dozen of its dogs recently contracted a rare infection. Just like humans, dogs can also get pneumonia, which is an inflammation of air sacs in the lungs.
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However, without knowing the cause, it is difficult to know the complete cost, so be sure to ask your vet about what treatment options are best for your dog's diagnosis. The best way to keep costs low and manageable is to catch pneumonia early, so seek consultation with your vet if you suspect your dog may be suffering from a pneumonia infection. Lee Asher, owner of the Asher House animal sanctuary in Estacada, near Portland, posted a video on social media Aug. 4 asking for help and donations after he said the community and sanctuary were hit with a "rare type of pneumonia." For animals who cannot oxygenate sufficiently on room-air, they are placed on supplemental oxygen. This may be a nasal or face mask, but veterinarians most commonly utilize an oxygen cage. An oxygen cage is an enclosed environment where the oxygen can be manipulated from room air (20 percent oxygen) to 100 percent oxygen.
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Since the sanctuary has a quarantine system, Asher said it was unclear how the outbreak started. The organization “rescues and rehabilitate animals that have been abused, abandoned or discarded and provide them with a safe home,” according to its website. Some forms of canine pneumonia, such as viral or bacterial components, are contagious to other dogs. The complete blood count, or CBC, may show signs of inflammation and infection. The blood chemistry may show signs of sepsis in severe cases, as well as predisposing factors or reasons for vomiting. Veterinarians use radiographs, or X-rays of the chest to diagnose pneumonia, and a specialized 3-view X-ray to help determine its severity.
What are the symptoms of pneumonia in dogs?
Veterinarians do not typically recommend cough suppressants for dogs recovering from pneumonia. Coughing is the body’s natural way to remove the infection and fluid within the airways. Dogs with pneumonia are typically dehydrated and require an intravenous catheter and fluid therapy to rehydrate. Dehydration impairs respiratory clearance and function, so this is especially important in cases of pneumonia.
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Outbreaks of canine infectious respiratory disease complex, also known as kennel cough, can happen in dog populations from time to time and are sometimes localized, the association said. Cases occur more commonly in places like shelters, boarding or training facilities over animals living in homes. "We rescue animals that have been discarded or unwanted, providing them with a life of comfort, love and adventure," the website reads. It currently lists 42 dogs, four cats, and a parrot as being under its care. An Oregon-based animal sanctuary is thanking TikTok users for helping settle some of the vet bills after several of its dogs contracted a rare type of pneumonia.
Most veterinarians recommend the continuation of treatment for at least a week after resolution of clinical signs – both patient symptoms and X-ray evidence. Typically, they will start with listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. This symptom, combined with coughing or difficulty breathing, may lead a veterinarian to recommend additional diagnostic tests.
He said he would keep his followers updated with what they learned from biopsies and tests about where the illness had come from. For now, he said he is focusing on the animals’ recovery and mourning the loss of Roo. “When we get those results back, we’ll have way more answers,” Asher said in his video posted Sunday.
Pneumonia in dogs can be a serious health concern, however, treatment is available and most dogs recover well. The staff at Carolina Veterinary Specialists share some of the symptoms of pneumonia in dogs, home treatment options, and what your vet can do to assist you in carrying for your sick canine companion. Hey, folks, I don't know if you know about The Asher House, but it's a huge dog sanctuary in Oregon run by Lee Asher. They take in dogs from owners who can't care for them, shelters, found animals...
In the most severe cases, a feeding tube and IV drip may be required to ensure the patient receives the nutrients they need to fight off the infection. Pneumonia in dogs can cause difficulty breathing and be life-threatening in severe cases just as it can be in people. When air sacs inside the lungs become inflamed, the lungs will swell and fill with pus and fluid that prevents enough air from entering the lungs. Some strains of pneumonia are highly contagious, such as the colloquially known "kennel cough" which infects the trachea and bronchi.
Some veterinary clinics in Oregon have reported cases, some severe, of canine respiratory illness over the last few months, and other states have also reported cases of an illness that appear similar to the symptoms in Oregon. It didn't take long for the sanctuary's 1.2 million TikTok followers to step up and open their wallets. Overwhelmed by the generosity, Asher posted a follow-up video on Sunday to provide an update and express his gratitude for the financial support.
The pneumonia strain was making its way all across the state, Asher said, so many of the local vets were full and couldn't take his dogs. Under his videos, Asher and his dogs received an outpouring of support from followers. Andrea Cantu-Schomus, director of communications at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, told NBC News in an email that the state veterinarian had not received reports of “animal influenza” or pneumonia as of Monday morning.
He said he rarely asked for help at all, but he had been hit hard by this unexpected illness. Therapy depends on the type of pneumonia and underlying pathology, or other illnesses. Mild cases of pneumonia can be managed on an outpatient basis with medications, rest and home care. Moderate to severe cases require hospitalization - often at emergency facilities - with 24/7 nursing care and special equipment. Often treatment for Pneumonia in dogs will require hospitalization in order to monitor their condition. Even when hospitalization is not required, it is important to take your dog to your vet if you suspect they are experiencing pneumonia, as the infection is most likely to become life-threatening without medical intervention.
This is typically done if a dog does not respond to initial oxygen therapy or is minimally unresponsive. Asher began writing notes to the dogs and cats awaiting adoption or euthanasia, promising to one day provide them a home and secure future. Today, Asher lives in the Salem, Oregon, region where he runs two animal sanctuaries and is affiliated with a third that, in total, care for an estimated 200 dogs, cats, horses, llamas and other animals. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, and lethargy. While at this time, the outbreak is mainly contained to Oregon, the OVMA encourages the public to check with their veterinarian if their dog shows these symptoms. Roo, one of the sanctuary’s dogs, died as a result of the illness, with four other dogs in and out of the emergency room.
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