Dogs, and dog owners, can breathe a little easier: The mysterious canine respiratory illness that rattled pet owners and baffled vets this fall appears to be waning in Oregon and around the country, according to the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. 

Why were respiratory illnesses, including Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC), especially pervasive among dogs this season? “There is currently a disturbingly high number of anatomically disastrous dogs out there,” says Scott Weese, chief of infection control at Ontario Veterinary College and author of the Worms and Germs blog. Flat-faced breeds like the increasingly popular Frenchie, which just overtook the Labrador retriever as America’s most popular purebred, have a higher risk of complications from CIRDC. 

Oregon became ground zero for the CIRDC outbreak late in 2023, when Portland and Willamette Valley area veterinarians sounded the alarm about hundreds of dogs sick with coughing, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, lethargy, and, in severe circumstances, acute pneumonia. Some dogs died.

Cases have dropped off significantly since then, but scientists still don’t have much in the way of an explanation for the outbreak. It appears to have been an uptick in existing illnesses, rather than a novel pathogen, according to Weese. 

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association also attributes the rise to an increase in pet ownership, pandemic-era pet vaccination lapses, and the socialization boom that occurred as restrictions were lifted. A golden retriever dog show held in Albany last September was suspected to be a superspreader event.

If “superspreader event” brings back haunting memories, take comfort in the fact that COVID-era advice offers an old-hat road map for pet owners looking to take precautions against CIRDC. The OVMA advises keeping pet vaccinations up to date—particularly because dogs vaccinated for respiratory illnesses like canine influenza generally get milder cases of CIRDC. Don’t use shared food and water bowls. Seek out veterinary care and testing for sick animals, and keep under-the-weather animals quarantined at home. 

Remember COVID pods, the small groups we formed to balance safety with sanity? Steering clear of dog park free-for-alls and crowded dog boarding in favor of a select few vaccinated puppy playmates allows for necessary socialization without maxing out your pet’s potential exposure, say vets. And when in doubt, consult your veterinarian.