Veterinary laboratories in several states are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs. Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire are among the states that have seen cases of the illness.

Veterinary laboratories in several states are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs, and encouraging people to take basic precautions to keep their pets healthy as veterinarians try to pin down what’s making the animals sick.

Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire are among the states that have seen cases of the illness, which has caused lasting respiratory disease and pneumonia and does not respond to antibiotics. Symptoms of respiratory illness in dogs include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy. Some cases of the pneunomia progress quickly, making dogs very sick within 24 to 36 hours.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August. It has encouraged pet owners to contact their vet if their dog is sick and told state veterinarians to report cases as soon as possible. The agency is working with state researchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses.

Dogs have died, said Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University. But without a clear way to define the disease or test for it, he said it’s hard to put a number on how many died from a severe form of the infection.

  • FireTower@lemmy.world
    14·
    8 months ago

    More coverage on the NH cases (Aug 2023)

    Veterinarians in southern New Hampshire are dealing with an increase in calls about an aggressive respiratory illness; more than 99% of affected animals recover, but some become very sick.

    Dogs in New Hampshire have been dealing with a contagious respiratory illness.

    “We are seeing a large number of dogs with any signs ranging from runny nose and eyes, coughing, up to labored breathing, high fevers,” explained Dr. Erin Crowley of the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester. “We are seeing dogs and we are tracing them back to kennels and day cares, groomers, anywhere where a large number of dogs are coming together.”

    Antibiotics are prescribed for the illness. Some have been hospitalized from two to seven days. More than 99% of the dogs recover, but vets are finding dogs of all ages becoming very ill.

    One dog, 8-month-old Wallace, became sick at doggie day care and was admitted Thursday with pneumonia. He’s now receiving nebulizer treatments.

    The Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester has seen about 300 cases of the aggressive illness in the past couple of months. Most of the phone calls to the 24-hour clinic have been from owners describing their dogs’ coughing or breathing issues.

    Concern started around school vacation week in April, and the veterinarians attribute this recent spike to people leaving their dogs to go on vacation.

    The illness is airborne, and because it is contagious, the clinic has set up a separate entrance to keeps sick dogs isolated.

    Antibiotics are prescribed. Some dogs, like Wallace, are hospitalized from two to seven days.

    https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/contagious-respiratory-illness-spreading-among-dogs-in-nh/2818474/#:~:text=Dogs%20in%20New%20Hampshire%20have%20been%20dealing%20with,Crowley%20of%20the%20Veterinary%20Emergency%20Center%20of%20Manchester.