Veterinary laboratories in several states are currently investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs. People are being encouraged to take basic precautions to keep their pets healthy, while veterinarians work to identify the cause of the sickness.
Cases of this illness have been reported in Oregon, Colorado, and New Hampshire. The illness has led to lasting respiratory disease and pneumonia in dogs, with no response to antibiotics. Warning signs of the illness include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, and lethargy. Some cases progress quickly, with dogs becoming severely ill within 24 to 36 hours.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented over 200 cases of the disease since mid-August. Pet owners are advised to contact their vet if their dog is showing symptoms, and state veterinarians have been instructed to report cases promptly. The agency is collaborating with researchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to determine the cause of the illnesses.
Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University, mentioned that dogs have died from the illness. However, without a clear definition or testing method, it’s difficult to determine the exact number of deaths caused by the severe form of the infection.
Williams advised dog owners not to panic and to ensure that their pets are up to date on vaccines, particularly those protecting against various respiratory illnesses.
Laboratories nationwide are sharing their findings as they work to identify the culprit. David Needle, senior veterinary pathologist at the University of New Hampshire’s New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, has been investigating the mysterious disease for almost a year.
Needle’s lab and colleagues at the university’s Hubbard Center for Genome Research have examined samples from dogs in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, with more samples expected from Oregon, Colorado, and potentially other states.
He stated that his team has not observed a significant increase in deaths from the illness but still advised pet owners to minimize contact with other dogs.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
