(ProsperNews.net) – A potentially fatal respiratory illness has been discovered in dogs in several western states. The mysterious disease was found in canines in Oregon, Idaho, California, and Nevada, and experts say they do not know what it is or where it came from.
Dr. Lindsay Ganzer, a veterinary surgeon from Colorado Springs, said the dog initially develops a cough that does not respond to treatment, and this develops into a potentially deadly pneumonia. Executive Director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab Kevin Snekvik has been researching the disease and said the dogs become lethargic and disinterested before developing a “hacking cough.”
Symptoms furthermore include eye and nose discharge, fatigue, and purple gums caused by troubled breathing.
So far, around 200 cases have been found, and vets say most of these involved dogs that had recently mixed with others, including in kennels or training schools. The initial recommendation, therefore, is to prevent mixing as much as possible. Owners are advised to avoid communal water bowls, make sure vaccinations are up to date, and keep their dogs away from large packs of unknown dogs and any animal that appears to be sick.
Dr. Ryan Scholz, a veterinarian in Oregon, said, “Based on the epidemiology of the cases reported at this point, the cases appear to share a viral aetiology, but common respiratory diagnostic testing has been largely negative.” Dr. David B. Needle of the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory said he is working with a team to collect DNA segments from affected animals to ascertain if an “evolutionary event” has occurred.
An evolutionary event may include a spontaneous gene mutation that makes certain types of bacteria more dangerous.
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association told owners to be cautious rather than worried and emphasized that it is not unusual for dogs to develop “periodic outbreaks of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex.” This illness is caused by various bacteria and transmitted via respiratory droplets.
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