- The ‘mysterious' disease infecting dogs has spread to at least 14 states
- Experts believe they may have found a potential bacterial cause
- READ MORE: Vets release guidance to keep dogs safe from mysterious disease
A ‘mysterious' disease spreading in dogs has now reached at least 14 states, health officials said.
Since August, hundreds of dogs have tested positive for the illness, and several have died – though these are thought to be vast underestimates due to a lack of awareness and testing.
The illness first resembles the common ‘kennel cough' virus but could quickly turn to pneumonia when the infection spreads to the lungs and causes breathing problems, fatigue and discharge from the eyes and nose.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is now asking vets to report cases while laboratories work to isolate the pathogen.
Reported symptoms of the disease include a cough that can last for weeks, runny eyes and sneezing
Health officials are urging people to ensure their dogs are up to date on all vaccines and reduce contact with other dogs
Colorado, California, Indiana, Washington, Georgia, and Oregon are among the states that have reported cases.
More than 200 dogs in Oregon have tested positive so far.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture described the mystery illness as an ‘atypical canine infectious respiratory disease.'
Reported symptoms of the disease include a cough that can last for weeks, runny eyes and sneezing.
The illness could progress and lead to pneumonia, which can result in death within 36 hours.
The disease has been shown to be resistant to common respiratory treatments, such as antimicrobial drugs.
While several dogs are believed to have died from the virus, experts say deaths do not seem to be a large consequence.
However, without a clear way to define the disease or test for it, it’s difficult to determine how many dogs actually have the virus and how many have died from a severe form of the infection.
While the illness remained a mystery for the first few weeks of its appearance, researchers at the University of New Hampshire believe they may have identified the bacteria that's causing it.
Dr David Needle, a veterinary pathologist who led the research, said it was a ‘funky' organism — that is as yet unnamed — and had not been observed before.
His team found the bacteria by performing forensic tests on 70 dogs who'd developed the tell-tale symptoms over the last two years.
Speaking to NBC News, he said this was ‘new as a potential cause of disease, but it is likely to be — or to have evolved from — a component of the dog microbiome [millions of bacteria found inside the animals' gut].'
He also described the bacteria as being smaller than other types and said it had few specific genetic characteristics – making it harder to detect.
The disease is spread through droplets in the air when dogs sneeze, cough or bark. No cases have been reported of the disease passing over to humans.
Dr Rena Carlson, president of AVMA, said: ‘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.'
Veterinarians have advised owners to steer clear of large meetings of unknown dogs, particularly if the dogs seem sick. This includes daycares, parks, groomers and boarding kennels.
Shared water bowls should also be avoided, and extra caution should be taken when traveling with dogs for the holidays.
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association said it advises ‘caution rather than worry' but urged pet owners to ensure their dog has received all its vaccinations, including for canine influenza, Bordetella and parainfluenza.
