Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD)

You may have heard reports of a respiratory disease making dogs sick, and in some cases dying, starting this summer. It is being called Atypical canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRDC) and seems to be circulating around the country in varying locales. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) began receiving reports of this atypical CIRDC in August of 2023. The appropriate authorities are continuing to monitor reports and are working diligently to try to identify the etiology. It does not appear typical of Canine Influenza Virus (CIV). It is not yet known if it is viral or bacterial in nature. Affected dogs have not tested positive for COVID-19. Some cases start out looking like bacterial kennel cough (Bordetella Bronchiseptica) but are not responding to antibiotics. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

This statement was put out on November 9, 2023 by the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) and is the latest update on this situation. The OVMA is a trusted source of information and works with the state veterinarian and other experts. 

The take-home message is to practice caution instead of worry. This is especially important if your dog regularly interacts with other dogs (daycare, play groups, etc.) or is boarded.

The cases reported to the ODA appear to primarily fall within three general clinical syndromes:

  • Chronic mild-moderate tracheobronchitis with a prolonged duration (6-8 weeks or longer) that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics. 

  • Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics.

  • Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24-36 hours.

We are following the recommendations of the state veterinarian and are recommending that those dogs at higher risk (social dogs) keep current with BOTH the Bivalent Canine Influenza Vaccination (CIV) and Bordetella vaccinations. If a dog has never received the CIV vaccination, it is a two-part booster series given 3-4 weeks apart. Currently, we have CIV in stock, but in the past few months, it has been on limited allocation. At this time, the supply seems to have stabilized.

If your dog starts coughing, it would be best to have them checked out by a veterinarian. It is also important that dog guardians stay especially vigilant about no contact with any other dogs if there is concern about any sort of respiratory infection. 

If folks are traveling this holiday season and their dog is traveling with them or going into a boarding situation, this would be the time to be extra diligent about watching for any respiratory symptoms. This is a good site that keeps track of outbreaks on a local and national level (especially in cases where folks are traveling with their dogs): Pet Disease Alerts

Please let us know if you have any further questions! If you are interested in updating or starting your dog’s Canine Influenza Vaccination, please give us a call or schedule online through our website.

Urgent Care Appointments Available 503-821-7070.

Our Doctors

Request An Appointment

Fern Hill Veterinary Care

Meet your Team

We love getting to know our clients, so we thought we’d share a little about who we are!
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and Tahoe, where I developed an early appreciation for nature and exploration. After obtaining my undergraduate degree from UC Santa Barbara, I spent several years exploring the world and working in different veterinary settings, gaining invaluable work and life experience. I was fortunate to volunteer with a wildlife veterinarian in South Africa, which briefly had me considering wildlife medicine, but I ultimately realized that I would miss having closer relationships with my patients.

Upon earning my veterinary degree from University of California, Davis in 2006, I moved to Portland where I completed an emergency and critical care internship at Dove Lewis Emergency Hospital. For more than a decade, I worked as an emergency and critical care veterinarian in the Portland metro area. I was able to hone my clinical skills while also strengthening my leadership and communication skills in a high-paced and unpredictable setting. Helping families navigate stressful situations in a thoughtful and compassionate manner was humbling and very rewarding. During this time, I also served as Intern Director, training and mentoring veterinary interns as they embarked on their careers.

After years of long hours and late nights, I made the transition from ER to general practice. I love being able to provide pets with comprehensive care, including wellness and disease prevention, urgent care, chronic disease management, and hospice care. At Fern Hill, I aim to treat your pet as I would my own. Cultivating lasting relationships with my clients is integral as I aim to provide a tailored plan for each individual pet. Successful veterinary care truly takes a village, and I am so happy to collaborate with such a talented and dedicated team of staff and pet families.

I am trained in veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. I am Fear Free Certified and am an active member of numerous local and national veterinary organization.

When not at work, I enjoy traveling, reading, honing my photography skills, and adventuring around the beautiful Pacific Northwest with Paco, the amazing scruffy mutt.

Dr. Shana Downes

My family hails from the North Island of New Zealand. I emigrated to the United States in my tweens and eventually landed in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to choosing a career helping animals, I had forays in the visual arts then wildlife biology.

I graduated from Washington State University in 2004 with my veterinary degree. My career started in a rural town treating rattlesnake bites and other non-urban problems. Since then I’ve honed my skills and love getting to know people and their pets. I became certified in acupuncture in 2008.

Going the extra mile is in my DNA. I try to be the best listener possible, provide education and give options that align with your values. My favorite appointments include seeing recent adoptees as well as making sick cats and dogs feel better.

I feel very lucky to be able to practice at Fern Hill. Getting to know each other will allow me to create an individualized approach for your pet. Given the combined experience of our doctors and staff you will be in great hands.

My pets are Penny and Momo the dogs and Zoya the cat. We long to have guinea pigs but Penny might enjoy them a little too much. My husband is an exacting carpenter at home, builder of megastructures at work and ardent animal lover. We enjoy spending time in nature as much as we can. The gorge is our favorite place to be with family and friends. I play on a die hard misfit soccer team and love mountain biking.

I served on the Portland Veterinary Medical Association Board helping organize and provide continuing education opportunities for fellow veterinarians. I also mentor veterinary students on how to take care of themselves and be a great vet. I can’t wait to meet you and your pets.

Dr. Yvonne Roberts

Yvonne

I grew up in Maine with many dogs and cats and a barn filled with random livestock and slightly rogue horses. Equine obsessed, I was an avid pony-clubber and three-day eventer.

After attending Cornell University for undergraduate and veterinary school, I moved to Portland in 1996.

I began in general practice, then transitioned to DoveLewis Animal Emergency Hospital as a senior staff veterinarian for seven years. I loved managing critical cases, teaching veterinary interns, and running the Animal Blood Bank. Finally, after countless overnight shifts, I returned to day practice and remembered all of the reasons I had missed it.

My interest in internal medicine and challenging cases never waned, but it was refreshing to return to wellness and preventative care, which are so crucial for pet longevity. Dental care and optimizing senior pet quality of life are also passions of mine. But perhaps what I missed the most was the long-term relationships with people and the animals in their lives.

Past and ongoing volunteering includes the P.A.W. team, Feral Cat Coalition, past president of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, and the PCC Veterinary Technology Advisory Committee.

Outside of work, my life is filled with two amazing teenagers and two dogs, three cats, and backyard chickens. I love travel of any sort. Recent adventures included a spay/neuter campaign I was lucky enough to join in Ladakh, India, several years ago. Also in the excellent column: wine, wandering with my dogs, great TV series, yummy food, minimally strenuous hiking, and having an empty afternoon.

Now, I have the lovely good fortune of creating an independent practice with two of the absolute best veterinarians I know. With our emphasis on stress-free handling and incorporating owners as partners in their pets’ care, we are building the practice we’ve dreamed of. Come see why we are so excited to be Fern Hill Veterinary Care!

Get to know Dr. Zambelli and learn about her adventures here.

Dr. Alicia Zambelli

Yvonne
My story starts in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I grew up next to a ranch with an assortment of animals: horses, ostriches, peacocks, camels, donkeys, and water buffalo. I read the James Herriot books and dreamt of one day becoming a veterinarian. Horses were my first passion. I became a member of Pony Club (similar to 4-H) and worked my way through the ranks to obtain my H-A rating. I participated in the equestrian sport of eventing for many years and traveled all over the Southwest competing. I attended the University of California in Santa Barbara for college, majoring in microbiology and Spanish, and then the University of California at Davis for vet school.
Vet school was a fantastic experience! (For any young people reading this, if you are interested in vet school, talk to me). After vet school, I spent a year in Lexington, Kentucky, where I completed an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. In 2013, I moved to Oregon to work as an equine ambulatory veterinarian. After a few wet and rainy Oregon winters, I decided to make the switch to working with small animals. I have since gained experience working in corporate, private, and mobile small animal practice (man, do I have some good stories!). My interests lie in surgery, anesthesia, and dentistry. I believe that providing regular dental care is one of the most important things we can do for our pets. I also have a soft spot for aging pets. I aim to provide them with the best possible care for a graceful end of life. Overall, I care deeply about maintaining the human-animal bond.

In my spare time, I enjoy horseback riding, hiking, cycling, and skiing. I just completed my first Portland to Coast walking relay and hope to do the Hood to Coast someday. I like a little bit of type 2 fun (it’s fun when it’s done)! Lately, my husband and I spend most of our time chasing around our two small children (while they chase around our two cats, Bastet and Tapatio).

I am beyond excited to join the team at Fern Hill Veterinary Care. What an amazing group of talented and passionate veterinary professionals!

Dr. Lauren Larson

Yvonne

Dr. Shana Downes

I am so enthusiastic and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Fern Hill Veterinary Care family!

Originally from northern California, I earned my veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis in 2006. I then completed an internship in emergency & critical care at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland Oregon. After working in emergency and critical care settings for more than a decade, I made the transition into general practice, where I have enjoyed the opportunity to practice high-quality medicine while also fostering more lasting relationships with my patients and their families.

Whether I’m managing an emergency situation or seeing a puppy for their first wellness visit, clear communication and client education is paramount. At Fern Hill, we emphasize a progressive team approach with the goal of finding the best plan for each individual pet. Our work truly takes a village, and we couldn’t succeed without a dedicated team of staff and pet families!

I enjoy providing comprehensive care, ranging from wellness and disease prevention to urgent care, chronic disease management, and hospice care. I am trained in veterinary acupuncture, through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.

I am owned by one scruffy mutt, Paco. In my spare time, I enjoy getting outdoors in the beautiful pacific northwest, hiking, international travel, photography, and gardening.

Dr. Yvonne Roberts

Yvonne
My family hails from the North Island of New Zealand. I emigrated to the United States in my tweens and eventually landed in the Pacific Northwest. Coincidentally, ferns and rain abound in both places.

Prior to choosing a career helping animals, I had forays in the visual arts and then wildlife biology. Along the way, I found out I like people too. I graduated from Washington State University in 2004 with a Veterinary Medicine degree.

My veterinary career started in a rural town treating rattlesnake bites and other non-urban problems. Since then I’ve honed my skills and love getting to know people and their pets. I try to be the best listener possible, educate owners and give options that align with your values and relationship with your pet. My favorite appointments include seeing pets that have just been adopted and making sick pets feel better. I am also certified in acupuncture for animals.

I feel very lucky to be able to practice at Fern Hill. I am a strong believer that keeping veterinary medicine in the hands of veterinarians is the best way to safeguard the well-being of pets. Getting to know each other will allow me to create an individualized approach to each patient. One of the best things is working as a team to get this done! With all our combined experience we’re able to provide the best possible care which is truly exciting.

My current family includes one husband, one cat, and two dogs. We enjoy spending time in nature as much as we can. The gorge is our favorite place to be with family and friends. I also play on a die-hard misfit soccer team and love mountain biking.

I served on the Portland Veterinary Medical Association Board helping organize and provide continuing education opportunities for fellow veterinarians. I also mentor veterinary students about to enter the profession. I’ve had some fabulous mentorship along the way and try to pay it forward. I can’t wait to meet you and your pets.

Dr. Alicia Zambelli

Yvonne
I grew up in Maine with many dogs and cats and a barn filled with random livestock and slightly rogue horses. Equine obsessed, I was an avid pony-clubber and three-day eventer.

After attending Cornell University for undergraduate and veterinary school, I moved to Portland in 1996.

I began in general practice, then transitioned to DoveLewis Animal Emergency Hospital as a senior staff veterinarian for seven years. I loved managing critical cases, teaching veterinary interns, and running the Animal Blood Bank. Finally, after countless overnight shifts, I returned to day practice and remembered all of the reasons I had missed it.

My interest in internal medicine and challenging cases never waned, but it was refreshing to return to wellness and preventative care, which are so crucial for pet longevity. Dental care and optimizing senior pet quality of life are also passions of mine. But perhaps what I missed the most was the long-term relationships with people and the animals in their lives.

Past and ongoing volunteering includes the P.A.W. team, Feral Cat Coalition, past president of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association, and the PCC Veterinary Technology Advisory Committee.

Outside of work, my life is filled with two amazing teenagers and two dogs, three cats, and backyard chickens. I love travel of any sort. Recent adventures included a spay/neuter campaign I was lucky enough to join in Ladakh, India, several years ago. Also in the excellent column: wine, wandering with my dogs, great TV series, yummy food, minimally strenuous hiking, and having an empty afternoon.

Now, I have the lovely good fortune of creating an independent practice with two of the absolute best veterinarians I know. With our emphasis on stress-free handling and incorporating owners as partners in their pets’ care, we are building the practice we’ve dreamed of. Come see why we are so excited to be Fern Hill Veterinary Care!

Get to know Dr. Zambelli and learn about her adventures here.

Dr. Lauren Larson

Yvonne
My story starts in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I grew up next to a ranch with an assortment of animals: horses, ostriches, peacocks, camels, donkeys, and water buffalo. I read the James Herriot books and dreamt of one day becoming a veterinarian. Horses were my first passion. I became a member of Pony Club (similar to 4-H) and worked my way through the ranks to obtain my H-A rating. I participated in the equestrian sport of eventing for many years and traveled all over the Southwest competing. I attended the University of California in Santa Barbara for college, majoring in microbiology and Spanish, and then the University of California at Davis for vet school.
Vet school was a fantastic experience! (For any young people reading this, if you are interested in vet school, talk to me). After vet school, I spent a year in Lexington, Kentucky, where I completed an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. In 2013, I moved to Oregon to work as an equine ambulatory veterinarian. After a few wet and rainy Oregon winters, I decided to make the switch to working with small animals. I have since gained experience working in corporate, private, and mobile small animal practice (man, do I have some good stories!). My interests lie in surgery, anesthesia, and dentistry. I believe that providing regular dental care is one of the most important things we can do for our pets. I also have a soft spot for aging pets. I aim to provide them with the best possible care for a graceful end of life. Overall, I care deeply about maintaining the human-animal bond.

In my spare time, I enjoy horseback riding, hiking, cycling, and skiing. I just completed my first Portland to Coast walking relay and hope to do the Hood to Coast someday. I like a little bit of type 2 fun (it’s fun when it’s done)! Lately, my husband and I spend most of our time chasing around our two small children (while they chase around our two cats, Bastet and Tapatio).

I am beyond excited to join the team at Fern Hill Veterinary Care. What an amazing group of talented and passionate veterinary professionals!