VETENARIANS have revealed there is a mysterious illness affecting dogs around the country, and it could be fatal.
Several states have reported that dogs are beginning to suffer from an unknown respiratory illness, and it's raising major concerns.
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“Right now it's a mystery,” Dr. Ferguson revealed to ABC News.
“You know, going through this season we often have a lot of respiratory diseases that we have in dogs, but you know having one that we're not quite sure about kind of you know changes things”
The new sickness starts off as a cough but can develop into something much worse within a few weeks.
“It seems to happen very, very quickly — to go from this cough that’s just won’t go away … and then all of a sudden they develop this pneumonia,” Dr. Lindsey Ganzer tells TODAY.com.
Some of the symptoms can include:
- Coughing that doesn't get better on its own after a week or so
- Sneezing
- Nasal or eye discharge
- Lethargy
- Trouble breathing, especially from the stomach
- Blue or purple gums (due to not getting enough oxygen)
While at the animal hospital, Ganzer revealed that she has seen up to 30 different dogs suffering from this new disease since October.
While working, the veterinarian sees about two to three pets with this mystery illness a day, often requiring serious hospitalization.
While dealing with the heartbreaking reality, she revealed that four or five dogs had died while she was treating them.
“We're still trying to pin down a potential cause or causes for the entity. At least in Oregon, it's given us some challenges,” Dr. Kurt Williams, director of Oregon Veterinary Diagnostics Lab explained.
Williams believes the illness could be brought on by an infectious virus. However, he does believe that researchers would need to “keep an open mind” to other causes.
Dr. Ganzer recommends keeping your pets away from other dogs for the time being. This includes staying away from kennels, pet daycares, or dog parks.
“I understand that there are circumstances that are unavoidable and that some people have to (board their dogs), but I would not take this lightly,” she explains.
“If there's somebody that can even just come to your house and let your dog out, that's a better option.”
For added precaution, it's also recommended to make sure your pet is up to date on all of their vaccinations.
If your dog comes in contact with the mystery disease, Dr.Ganzer suggests talking to your local veterinarian about submitting a sample to a research lab, to help identify the cause.
