Mystery illness affecting dogs across the United States
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[November 30, 2023]
By Daniel Trotta
(Reuters) - A mystery respiratory illness has stricken dogs in at least
14 states, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association,
which is asking vets to report cases while laboratories race to isolate
the pathogen.
Researchers are still attempting to determine if the disease, which can
be fatal, is viral or bacterial, and whether it could be a variant of
the well-understood canine disease known as "kennel cough," the
association said.
Symptoms including coughing that can last four to six weeks, which could
be mild bronchitis or could escalate to pneumonia. Some acute cases have
quickly become pneumonia within 24 to 36 hours, the association said.
So far there is little indication the disease can spread to humans, but
vets are warning dog owners to take extra care this holiday season, when
pets travel with families or are placed in kennels.
Though cases have been reported for months, the association has stepped
up its public advisories recently for the holiday season.
Oregon has reported some 200 cases, and there have been an unknown
number of cases in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
Vermont and Washington.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is working with state and national
diagnostic laboratories to identify the cause, and the Colorado State
University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences has
linked the disease to cases of severe pneumonia and some deaths, the
association said in its latest advisory updated on Wednesday.
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Dog owners bring their animals to the beach during the early morning
in Del Mar, California, U.S., November 26, 2023. REUTERS/Mike
Blake/File Photo
Veterinarian Rena Carlson, president
of the association, said so much remained unknown about the outbreak
that it was simply being referred to as an atypical disease.
"We just don't know whether it can jump to other species, whether
that would be humans or cats. We're watching that really closely,"
Carlson said in an interview.
Experts in New Hampshire have focused their investigation on a new
bacterium, but so far antibiotics have been largely ineffective as
treatment, Carlson said.
Carlson recommended dog owners to get their pets current on
vaccinations and to seek veterinary help as soon as dogs show
symptoms.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta and Jorge Garcia; Editing by Sandra
Maler)
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