PROVIDENCE — With a mysterious, and sometimes deadly, respiratory illness sickening dogs in at least 16 states, including Rhode Island, the state Department of Environmental Management Thursday advised dog owners to keep their pets from mingling with other dogs.
The DEM says owners should keep their dogs away from other dogs until veterinarians and epidemiologists can identify the highly contagious respiratory disease.
About 35 cases of the mystery illness have been reported in Rhode Island, although State Veterinarian Scott Marshall said he believes the illness has been underreported.
More:The mysterious illness affecting dogs is in RI. But do pet owners have to worry?
Signs of infection in dogs include a cough that can linger for several weeks, runny eyes and sneezing. The sick dogs can also develop pneumonia.
Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association president Shelly Pancoast said, “Based on our internal data, we feel that most dogs that develop pneumonia and require hospitalization will make a full recovery, and a very small number of dogs are passing away from this disease.”
