The state’s top veterinarian is urging Michiganders to keep watch over their dogs as an “atypical” respiratory illness spreads across more than a dozen states.
Pet owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if they notice signs of illness, such as coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, fever, lack of appetite or lethargy.
“While the exact cause of this illness remains unknown, taking some basic steps to prevent a dog’s exposure to harmful germs can go a long way to protecting their overall health,” said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, in a release issued Wednesday, Nov. 29.
Severe forms of the disease can progress to life-threatening pneumonia. But no cases have been reported in Michigan, and none of the states where the illness is spreading are in the Midwest, a local animal hospital official said.
Some pet owners are worried about taking their dogs to daycare or dog parks, said Annette Engler, administrator of the Union Lake Veterinary Hospital in Waterford Township.
She believes that some misplaced panic has resulted from the Internet stories about the respiratory disease in other states.
One Internet report she saw called the disease “COVID for dogs.”
“The good news is that despite all the Internet panic, we have not seen this in Michigan,” Engler said.
“Just like in humans, we do see an uptick in respiratory illnesses” this time of year, she said.
A dog’s cough could be a “run-of-the-mill” respiratory illness and not a reason for panic.
Owners should be most concerned about older dogs and puppies, who are most likely to be immune-compromised.
She said a dog that is showing signs of illness should not be taken to daycare or a dog park. Otherwise, there’s no reason to keep them out of these facilities.
Dogs should be kept up to date on all vaccinations, she said.
By all means, she said, take your dog to a veterinarian if it shows signs of illness.
Respiratory illnesses in dogs, just like in people, tend to be caused by viruses that don’t respond to antibiotics. But they can be treated with antibiotics as there is often a secondary bacterial infection, Engler said.
