How it spreads, how vets treat it

WAYLAND — A mysterious respiratory illness that has impacted dogs and puzzled veterinarians has dog owners concerned and thinking twice about leaving their four-legged friends in boarding houses or kennels for the holiday.

“The unfortunate thing is that what we are seeing mimics a lot of other respiratory illnesses in dogs, which involves coughing, lethargy, decreased appetite,” said Marion Silk, a veterinarian at Silk Veterinary Hospital on Pelham Island Road. “The major difference with this one is that it's not responding to treatment the same way that other respiratory illnesses do.”

The illness so far has been most prevalent out West, with Oregon reporting more than 200 confirmed cases of the disease. But the virus has been found in 13 other states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Some states say the illness, which can cause severe pneumonia, has resulted in fatalities.

Map:Mysterious and fatal dog respiratory illness reported in 14 states

Typically, respiratory illnesses in dogs can be treated with antibiotics. Common illnesses, like kennel cough, have symptoms that last two to three weeks, and can be cleared up with rest and antibiotics. However, the new illness that has been identified has yet to respond to such treatment, with veterinary teams working hard to determine its cause and the best ways to treat it going forward.