Dog Safety Alert – Respiratory Outbreak

Dear Pawsitive Clients,

Since this past August of 2023, veterinarians around Oregon state started to see an atypical canine infectious respiratory disease circulating around the Portland metro and Willamette Valley areas. The main clinical symptom resembles kennel cough, mainly a dry honking cough. Kennel cough is caused by a complex of bacteria and viruses that affect the upper airways. However, this respiratory disease is thought to be due to a novel virus and a different type of bacteria. The new strain appears to possibly has 3 main distinguishing features:

Chronic mild to moderate tracheobronchitis with a prolonged duration (6-8 weeks or more) that is minimally responsive to oral antibiotics.
Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics.
Acute pneumonia which rapidly becomes severe and can cause mortality in 24-36 hours.

Currently our recommendations are:

Limit your dogs’ exposure to other dogs. Exercise caution in taking your dogs to doggie day care, kennels, dog parks, agility competitions and avoid communal water bowls shared by multiple dogs.
Use your groomer with caution, please contact your groomer prior to appointments to discuss sanitation/prevention protocols they have in place.
If you elect to continue visiting daycares, boarding, dog parks and grooming please ensure your pet is vaccinated against Bordetella and Influenza to prevent comorbid infections. These vaccines are not effective for the current unknown illness but may reduce co-infections.
If your pet has any coughing, lethargy or decreased appetite veterinary care should be sought urgently- if we are unavailable, please use our triage line to determine if you should seek emergency care.

This is a link with more information on this outbreak: https://www.oregonvma.org/news/reports-of-severe-canine-infectious-respiratory-disease-in-oregon

We wish your family (pets included) a safe and happy holiday season and as always do not hesitate to call with any questions or concerns.

Pawsitive Team

To reach our after-hours triage line call Pawsitive Wellness at 541-515-6789 and listen for the option to speak with a Veterinary Professional from Guardian Vet. This service is provided so you can speak with a knowledgeable professional while we are not available. A report of the concerns and discussion will be forwarded to our office, and we will reach out the next business day. If your pet is in true distress and in need of emergency care, please go to the local emergency hospitals.

Acupuncture for
Dogs and Cats

Pawsitive Wellness Veterinary Care offers modern and traditional medical treatments and therapies for dogs and cats with challenging medical conditions.

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What is Acupuncture Treatment for Pets?

Acupuncture for pets follows the traditional and ancient Chinese methods that work to help balance essential energy within the body. Acupuncture has allowed humans to experience a higher quality of life in the wake of many illnesses. Pawsitive Wellness Veterinary Care offers the same healing process provided to humans – a balancing of essential energy – to pets.

By balancing energy centers within the body, we encourage the natural healing process to amplify and symptoms to decrease. Acupuncture is the process of placing needles into the body at strategic locations referred to as meridians. The needles help to clear the meridians of blockages so that energy flows more efficiently throughout the body. The process enhances blood flow, which is key to speeding up the healing process.

The benefits of acupuncture for pets

Acupuncture works in two ways. It is a stand-alone therapy that pairs with modern medicine to improve the outcome or reduce side effects. An example would be cancer treatments. Acupuncture can enhance the benefits of chemo or medicinal therapies by increasing blood flow and decreasing pain or discomfort associated with cancer or treatment. Improved blood circulation helps pain medication remain effective, especially for adult and senior pets.

At Pawsitive Wellness Veterinary Care, we focus on your pet’s entire health picture. By offering alternative ways to treat diseases and disorders, we open the door to improved health and quality of life.

Acupuncture for Pets

Acupuncture works by inserting special needles along specific points of the body. The process stimulates the release of energy, which helps blood vessels relax, and healing becomes more efficient. As our veterinary acupuncturist accesses the acupuncture points, trapped energy floods the body and helps bolster the immune system. It is a wonderful therapy that helps address each pet’s health condition.

Dogs and cats often face degenerative joint disease, pain, and digestive issues. Acupuncture can help manage the symptoms associated with the disease, and as a preventative form of medicine, it helps manage the disease from the earliest onset.

Acupuncture for your dog or cat is both local and general

Because acupuncture increases blood flow, it enhances the body’s ability to maintain health at a cellular level. As blood flow increases, the cells become better oxygenated, and removing cellular waste and free radicals becomes more efficient. That process helps improve health both at the illness’s locality and throughout your pet’s bodily systems.

During the process of inserting needles, the body releases natural endorphins, which help to control pain and inflammation.

Acupuncture as a Complementary Medicine

Acupuncture pairs wonderfully with our preventative medical approach and couples with our veterinary experience and expertise. It not only pairs with preventive medicine but with traditional and modern medical treatment plans, such as those that treat bone disease and cancer.

Is acupuncture the correct treatment for your pet? We encourage you to discuss those options with our veterinarians. Acupuncture for pets shows a lot of promise, and the outcomes are backed by research. Still, it is not always the best path forward, and we strive to make managing the health and wellness of your pets effortless and successful.

Is My Pet a Good Candidate for Acupuncture?

The answer to this question depends on your pet’s health, age, and medical status. Acupuncture works well for dogs and cats that suffer from orthopedic conditions, such as degenerative joint disease, arthritis, and back pain. It can also be a wonderful addition to a medical treatment plan that involves tissue care and treatment, such as postoperative procedures, broken bones, and sprains.

The side effects of acupuncture are almost minimal. There is almost no risk of infection from the needles, though there can be a risk of secondary infection.

Acupuncture may not be the best treatment option for older dogs and cats with an advanced disease status. It can be used to help reduce symptoms, especially for those pets that have chronic pain.

What Should I Expect From Acupuncture Treatment for My Pet?

First, acupuncture is not a one-treatment cure-all. It is a session of treatments with improvement increasing as treatment progresses. Most pets have a positive result from acupuncture therapy after their third session. As treatments continue, the results tend to improve. The results depend on your pet’s health and medical condition.

Because there are no systemic negative effects, it can be the only treatment option for pets in poor health.

If you are looking for a veterinarian in Eugene and are ready to learn more about how acupuncture can benefit your pet, give us a call or sign up online for an initial appointment. We are happy to discuss treatment options, fully explain the process, and gather medical information about your pet. Our veterinary acupuncturists are highly trained and certified in acupuncture for your dog or cat and in the complete care of each pet we see.