News

Seattle Met | Urban Animal’s Veterinary Cooperative

Launched in the fall of 2023, Urban Animal is disrupting the industry with the nation’s largest veterinary cooperative. Gaining traction by spreading the word, Urban’s founder, Dr. Cherri Trusheim is building a worker cooperative in Seattle.

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A Respiratory Illness in Dogs

If you’re a dog lover, you may have heard different news stories referencing a respiratory disease affecting dogs in different states including Oregon. Urban wanted to weigh in.

WHAT IS KNOWN (at this time)

1. The causative agent is unknown, but is likely viral in nature, and may be a complex of more than one organism.
2. In general, there are several known bacterial and viral organisms that can cause respiratory disease in dogs. Often illness is caused by multiple organisms working together.
3. The number of cases currently reported represents a very small percentage of the dog population, AND the majority of those have not developed serious illness.
4. In general, respiratory disease tends to spread most rapidly in confined communal settings – boarding facilities, day care, and shelters – rather than outdoors.

SYMPTOMS

• Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal and/or eye discharge, and lethargy. If your dog shows these symptoms, we recommend seeing your veterinarian.
• Cases are treated according to a dog’s symptoms and severity of symptoms. Most dogs, especially those vaccinated against common respiratory diseases, experience mild illness.

WHAT CAN I DO?

First, we suggest caution rather than worry. Currently there are no reported illnesses in the Puget Sound region. While the situation remains dynamic, here are a few general recommendations:

• Make sure your dog is up-to-date on their vaccines including Bordetella, parainfluenza, and, in some cases, canine influenza.
• In this area, many dogs are not routinely vaccinated for canine influenza, and this has not been linked as a causative agent of this illness; however, vaccinating for canine influenza as a precaution may be a reasonable action step.
• When possible, reduce contact with large numbers of dogs, especially indoor activities.
• Keep symptomatic dogs at home unless seeking veterinary care.
• Avoid communal water bowls shared by multiple dogs.

DO I BOARD MY DOG?

It’s a busy travel season and likely an increased chance you are needing to board your dog. With the wide range of potential risks and outcomes with respiratory disease, there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation. Working with a veterinarian is the best way to ensure you have the appropriate information to make an informed decision for your dog. In general, we recommend taking your dog’s age, health, and vaccination status into account when making these decisions.

Resources to check for latest news are the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association News or if the situation changes in our state, Washington State Veterinary Medical Association. If you want more guidance regarding your specific dog, call or visit one of Urban’s walk-in locations (Capitol Hill and White Center) or make an appointment at our Downtown location.

Deeper Dive with Kim Shepard | The Launch of Urban Animal’s Veterinary Cooperative

Urban’s founder, Dr. Cherri Trusheim is set to disrupt the veterinary industry by doing something different – building a worker cooperative. In lieu of corporate and private equity influence, Urban Animal is transitioning into employee ownership, in a model popular in Europe and focused on governance and giving workers a voice. Urban Animal is poised to be the largest veterinary cooperative in the U.S.

Listen to the segment using the player below.

Washington State Veterinary Medical Association

Urban Animal and Doney Coe Pet Clinic have appreciated a collaborative partnership since 2021 with a similar mission in mind – providing access to veterinary care. As part of the Pacific Northwest Veterinary Conference in Tacoma, veterinarians and veterinary staff were honored at WSVMA’s award ceremonies on September 23. Dr. Blair de Vries, Washington State Veterinary Medical Association President, served as the MC and Doney Coe received the WSVMA Humane Animal Welfare Award.

Stan Coe, DVM and numerous volunteers (including Urban Animal’s team) of the Doney Coe Pet Clinic were on hand to receive this recognition for the long-time, compassionate veterinary care they provide to pets of unhoused and low-income families in the Seattle area.

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