Veterinarians in some parts of the country are urging pet owners to keep away from dog parks as a mysterious canine illness sweeps several states.
Courtesy of Hermann Park ConservancyHouston area veterinarians and shelter officials are on the lookout for a mysterious illness that is believed to have caused some dogs to become seriously ill and even died across the country in recent months.
Researchers describe it as a respiratory illness that does not respond to antibiotics.
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"Looks like it's [a] virus,” said Dr. Kiko Bracker, a veterinarian at MSPCA Angell Medical Center in Jamaica Plain, Mass., in an interview with CBS News Boston. “Viruses do not respond to antibiotics and antivirals won't be effective until we know what that virus is.”
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association first reported cases back in August with more than 200 cases following the initial report of the disease now.
The San Diego Humane Society has halted the intake of animals, except in rare circumstances, after the fast-spreading disease killed four dogs in its care.
As of now, there’s no official case count nationwide.
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Whether the illness has reached Texas is unclear.
Dr. Lori Teller, a Texas A&M professor, told KHOU-TV said it is not known how many cases have popped up in Texas since canine respiratory cases aren't reportable.
While officials search for the cause of the illness, they say its symptoms mirrors that of canine influenza or kennel cough.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that canine influenza, also known as dog flu, attacks the dogs respiratory system caused by specific Type A influenza viruses. There are two different kinds of Type A influenza viruses, H3N8 virus and H3N2 virus. Respiratory diseases can spread through direct contact or through water droplets from sneezing and coughing.
Common signs of canine respiratory illness
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- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Labored breathing
- Nose or eye discharge
- Lethargy or decreased appetite.
- In some of the reported cases, dogs suffered from pneumonia.
In an effort to protect against the illness, officials encourage owners to avoid “high-risk” situations such as placing dogs in boarding kennels, visiting dog parks or placing them in doggy daycare. Additionally, they advise against dogs sharing dog bowls, toys or chews among other dogs.
Staying up-to-date on vaccines also aids in protecting the pooches from the unknown disease until more information becomes available, veterinarians and infectious disease researchers said.
