October 2013 by Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD

Audience: Veterinary Team

Video Length: 97 minutes

It's no surprise that animal shelters can be incubators for the spread of respiratory infections. In many cases, the diseases are familiar. But assuming a cough is kennel cough just might cause you to miss an important diagnosis. Dr. Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD and Clinical Assistant Professor for Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, discusses recently identified unique disease syndromes and new test panels which are revealing a surprising number of previously unrecognized infections, such as respiratory coronavirus, influenza, pneumovirus, mycoplasma and streptococcus. This presentation is part of the University of Florida's Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program track at the 2013 No More Homeless Pets National Conference.

This workshop will help you to:

  • Recognize the clinical signs of newly discovered respiratory infections.
  • Develop diagnostic approaches for traditional and newly emerging respiratory infections.
  • Identify acceptable rates of respiratory infection in shelters and recognize endemic and outbreak situations.
  • Develop surveillance and response protocols for respiratory diseases, even when the exact cause is unknown.

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Bio photo of Dr. Cynda Crawford in a peach-colored shirt, smiling and holding brown and white dog

Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD

Dr. Cynda Crawford is Maddie's® Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine in Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Crawford earned a PhD in Immunology/Infectious Diseases from the University of Florida in 1984 and a DVM degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the same institution in 1989. Her areas of expertise include canine and feline infectious diseases, and evaluation of diagnostic tests and vaccines for infectious diseases.

She focuses on diagnosis and management of viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory infections in shelter dogs. Dr. Crawford was instrumental in identifying the H3N8 canine influenza virus and among the pioneering researchers into the disease when it first presented in shelter dogs in Florida in 2004.