Beyond Kennel Cough: A Practical PCR Approach to Canine Respiratory Diagnostics

Course overview

When a coughing dog arrives in your exam room, the diagnosis rarely writes itself. CIRDC involves multiple bacterial and viral pathogens, and clinical signs are often identical regardless of the causative agent. Using an illustrative case study, this session discusses how multiplex PCR panels have transformed pathogen detection, but knowing when to order one, how to collect the right sample, and how to interpret results remains a gap for many practitioners. By the end of this session, participants will be able to select the right diagnostic modality, submit properly collected samples, and apply PCR results paired with your clinical picture to guide targeted therapy, client communication, and outbreak control.