Alaska Chief Veterinarian Alerts Public to Deadly Mysterious Illness Affecting Dogs in the Lower 48

Alaska’s state veterinarian urges clinics and pet owners to watch for signs of an unexplained respiratory illness that has affected dogs in over a dozen U.S. states, but has not surfaced in Alaska as of yet.

Dr. Bob Gerlach, the state veterinarian, encourages Alaska pet owners to be cautious and consider taking measures to protect their dogs from the illness.

The mystery illness, first identified in the U.S. as early as this summer, shares symptoms with kennel cough such as coughing, sneezing, runny eyes, lethargy, and fever. However, it does not respond to standard medication and can last more than a week. It has puzzled researchers and has been linked to several dog deaths.

Gerlach recommends that dog owners prevent their pets from interacting with large groups of unfamiliar dogs, drinking from communal water bowls, and advises keeping sick dogs at home. He also suggests calling pet boarding facilities and grooming salons in advance to inquire about their illness prevention protocols.

Additionally, he stated that while there has been an increase in respiratory illnesses, none have been linked to the new mystery illness in Alaska so far.

A Nov. 24 letter signed by Gerlach and distributed to all active members of the Alaska Veterinary Medical Association requested help with surveillance and detection to monitor the spread of this unidentified illness. It provided a list of symptoms consistent with the new illness for veterinarians to watch for.