Streptococcus Zooepidemic Notice
New information regarding a highly contagious bacterium in animals, Streptococcus Zooepidemic, has been reported in North Oregon earlier this month.
Albany Pet Hotel is actively practicing protocols within our facility in an attempt to prevent the bacteria from spreading, including informing pet parents of the recent outbreak.
Important information regarding what we currently know about Streptococcus Zooepidemic, as well as symptoms to be aware of, can be found below.
Updated 2/19/26
On February 13th, 2026, Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) shared crucial information regarding an outbreak of Streptococcus Zooepidemic (SZ) that occurred in their facility in Troutdale, Oregon. While MCAS is approximately 1 ½ hour from our facility in Albany, Oregon, or ~90 miles, we understand how quickly highly contagious illnesses such as SZ can spread in the dog community, especially in high traffic, public spaces including dog parks, animal shelters, grooming salons, and daycare/boarding facilities like Albany Pet Hotel.
In an effort to keep our facility, animals under our care, and the overall pet community as safe as possible, we have compiled important information, as well as vital protocols for our facility, from a variety of reputable sources including MCAS, local veterinarians in the Albany/Corvallis area, and reputable online articles, pertaining to this highly contagious and often fatal bacteria.
What do we know about SZ?
Fortunately, MCAS has done everything possible to isolate the SZ to the best of their ability including pausing new dog intakes and thorough vet checks on existing dogs in their facility. Further information including new updates on SZ in MCAS' facility is actively posted on their website, www.multcopets.org.
While SZ can present similarly to other illnesses such as Canine Cough (the common cold-like illness that we have previously posted about), SZ symptoms should not go unnoticed.
From MCAS, “When immunocompromised dogs become infected by [SZ], it can cause sudden, severe cases of fatal pneumonia that is very dangerous for the dog. It is spread through contact with saliva and nasal secretions, and is highly contagious between dogs.
We strongly recommend seeking immediate emergency veterinary care if you notice any of the following signs in your pet(s):
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Fever
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Bloody discharge from the dog’s nose or mouth
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Sudden decrease in appetite and/or energy level
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Difficulty breathing”
Local veterinarians in our area also note that coughing, sneezing, vomiting, and diarrhea can be contributing symptoms, and should not go unexamined by a veterinarian if your pet is displaying such symptoms.
How is Albany Pet Hotel responding to the SZ notice?
While there have been no cases in our facility nor in the Albany and surrounding areas to our knowledge, we have taken several precautions similar to those we practice during a Canine Cough outbreak. This includes:
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Contacting local vets in our area for more information regarding SZ and steps we can take to keep our facility and pets safe
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Informing our clients of the SZ outbreak on our communication platforms so pets can be monitored at home for symptoms
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Continuously monitoring pets under our care for SZ symptoms, and following proper isolation protocols in the event any pet shows symptoms in our facility
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Temporarily refraining from taking in newly adopted dogs into our facility without a two-week quarantine period (this includes a quarantine period for all other pets living at home with the newly-adopted pet)*
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Turning away pets who are showing any of the symptoms mentioned above*
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Encouraging immunocompromised dogs to refrain from entering public spaces (dog parks, pet boarding and daycare facilities, grooming salons, etc.)
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Continuing to thoroughly sanitize our entire boarding facility daily, if not in-between each dog (such as our kennels), with the same sanitizing products local veterinary clinics use. This includes allowing these types of sanitizers to sit for the recommended period of time used for bacterial outbreaks like SZ (despite having no active cases in our facility).
*We understand these types of protocols can place pet parents in a tough situation, especially for those seeking immediate pet care, but we promise this restriction is in place solely for the safety of all pets in our facility.
Additional information regarding SZ can be found through this vet-recommended article: https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/downloads/canine-cough-overview/
Additional questions?
Please contact our Receptionist team with any questions regarding our current protocols regarding SZ. We strongly encourage all pet parents to contact their veterinarian with any questions pertaining specifically to your pet’s health and SZ, and to seek immediate veterinary care if your pet is displaying any of the symptoms mentioned above. We will continue to monitor the SZ outbreak in Oregon and keep pet parents informed as new information becomes available.