Mysterious Deadly Illness Strikes Hundreds Of Dogs Across US States

Clear Facts

• An unusual respiratory illness in dogs that does not respond to antibiotics is being investigated in several U.S. states, including Oregon, Colorado, and New Hampshire.
• The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August, and some dogs have died from the illness.
• Veterinarians recommend pet owners to keep their dogs away from other dogs if possible and ensure their pets are up-to-date on vaccines.

Pet owners should be cautious as an unusual respiratory illness in dogs that does not respond to antibiotics is being investigated in several states across the U.S., including Oregon, Colorado, and New Hampshire. The illness has caused lasting respiratory disease and pneumonia in dogs, with symptoms including coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, and lethargy. Some cases of pneumonia progress quickly, making dogs very sick within 24 to 36 hours.

“Unfortunately, right now, nobody knows what it is,” veterinarian Dr. Mike Hutchinson told CBS News Pittsburgh. “When that happens, you should see your veterinarian because we’re going to treat those symptoms. And for viruses, there’s really no good anti-viral on the market. However, we can support the symptoms sometimes by nebulizing them or giving them some support, fluids, things that they need,” said Hutchinson.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August, encouraging pet owners to contact their vet if their dog is sick and told state veterinarians to report cases as soon as possible. The agency is working with state researchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses.

Dogs have also died from the illness, according to Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University. However, without a clear way to define the disease or test for it, it’s hard to put a number on how many died from a severe form of the infection.

As veterinarians try to pin down what’s making the animals sick, they are encouraging people to take basic precautions to keep their pets healthy. Hutchinson says he hasn’t seen any cases in his practice but recommends pet owners to keep their furry friends away from other dogs if possible, as they are more likely to contract the illness in places like kennels, dog parks, and groomers.

“Most of the day cares, at least around us, they require that all of the vaccines are up to date, that they have a health certificate from their veterinarian. So most of the time you’re putting healthy dogs into that area. But you get one dog that’s sick, it’s like the schoolyard cold, then the rest of them can get that cold,” Hutchinson said.

Williams also says it’s a good idea to make sure your pets are up-to-date on vaccines, including those that protect against various respiratory illnesses. Otherwise, “don’t panic,” he says.

David Needle, senior veterinary pathologist at the University of New Hampshire’s New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, who has been investigating the mysterious disease for almost a year, said his team has not seen a large increase in dogs dying from the illness but also encouraged pet owners to “decrease contact with other dogs.” His lab and colleagues at the university’s Hubbard Center for Genome Research have looked at samples from dogs in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and more will be coming from Oregon, Colorado, and possibly other states.

Clear Thoughts

The mysterious illness plaguing dogs across multiple U.S. states highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting our beloved pets. With hundreds affected and no clear cause, pet owners must exercise caution. The spread of this potentially fatal disease exposes the vulnerability of our furry friends to unknown threats.

While experts struggle to identify the cause, it is crucial for pet owners to take necessary precautions, such as keeping dogs away from other dogs, ensuring vaccinations are up-to-date, and contacting veterinarians if symptoms arise. Only through collective action can we safeguard our pets from this insidious menace.

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