As an expert in veterinary medicine, I have been closely following the recent outbreak of a mysterious dog virus that has been spreading across the United States. By the end of last week, 16 states had officially registered cases of what is being called a “complex of atypical canine infectious respiratory diseases”. While it has not yet been identified in Virginia, the contagious disease has been found in Maryland. This illness has caused concern among veterinarians and pet owners alike, as it can result in euthanasia in some cases. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has reported that at least 19 states have registered cases of this mysterious canine respiratory infection.
However, it is difficult to track the exact number of cases as there is no national data on canine diseases. The illness typically starts with a persistent cough that can last for weeks or even months and does not respond to regular treatment such as antibiotics or antivirals. In some dogs, the cough can progress to pneumonia, which can be fatal if the dog does not receive enough oxygen. Since early November, several groups including state departments of agriculture, the AVMA, and county departments of public health have issued warnings about this disease. It seems to affect dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds, but is more common in dogs that have recently spent time with other dogs, such as in kennels or dog daycares.
Dogs with short snouts, like pugs and bulldogs, may also be at a higher risk. Many veterinarians and expert groups are advising dog owners to keep their pets away from boarding schools, grooming shops, and any other place where dogs tend to gather in groups for the time being. If your dog develops a cough, do not panic but keep an eye on their symptoms and overall health. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any concerning changes. Dogs with this mysterious illness often have coughs, sneezes, and eye or nasal secretions, as well as abnormal fatigue.
However, they do not test positive for any common cause of canine respiratory illness, as reported by the Oregon Department of Agriculture in a November release. Typically, dogs with respiratory illnesses will cough for seven to 10 days, but some veterinarians have seen an increase in cases where the cough lasts for weeks or months and does not respond to treatment. According to pet insurance company Trupanion, claims for dogs with respiratory illnesses are on the rise in several states. In Rhode Island alone, there have been at least 35 confirmed cases of this mysterious respiratory disease, although it is likely that there are many more unreported cases. Dogs are more likely to contract the illness when they are in close contact with other dogs, such as at daycare centers, dog parks, groomers, or kennels. Between mid-August and mid-November, the Oregon Department of Agriculture received reports of over 200 cases of this disease from veterinarians across the state.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture also reported that veterinarians in their state are currently treating twice as many cases as they typically see during an outbreak of canine infectious respiratory disease. Clinics across Wisconsin have also reported an increase in cases since late October, according to Dr. Keith Poulsen from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. As a veterinarian, I have noticed a significant increase in cases of contagious coughs among dogs this year. Typically, these cases decrease in the fall as temperatures drop and fewer dogs gather in parks.
However, this year the numbers have remained high. I have seen all three scenarios in my hospital - dogs with a chronic upper respiratory tract infection that later develop pneumonia due to a secondary bacterial infection, dogs with a prolonged cough that eventually recovers, and dogs with severe pneumonia that require more intensive treatment. In a small subgroup of dogs, pneumonia can be very serious and even fatal. While most dogs with pneumonia respond well to antibiotics, some have died or had to be euthanized. Unfortunately, since most states do not record the number of cases, it is impossible to know exactly how many dogs have died from this disease.
However, it has been confirmed that some dogs in the United States have died from this mysterious illness. The Colorado Department of Agriculture has reported that in rare cases, canine patients can quickly go from pneumonia to death. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences at Colorado State University has also confirmed that the disease has caused some deaths. As an expert in veterinary medicine, I have personally treated several canine patients who have died from what I believe to be this mysterious illness. Shelly Pancoast, the president of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, told WJAR that she has seen five to 10 dogs die from this illness.
Researchers at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire have identified a bacteria that may be responsible for the increase in respiratory diseases in dogs, but further testing is needed to confirm this. It is also possible that the cause could be a bacteria or virus that has been around for some time but has not been identified until now. According to Dr. Scott Weese, a professor of pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Guelph and director of the university's Center for Public Health and Zoonosis, some dogs may have reduced immunity due to restrictions imposed during the pandemic on boarding and daycare. Additionally, dog vaccination rates are also falling, which could contribute to the spread of this disease. The following states have reported cases of this mysterious dog virus: Tennessee, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Colorado, Oregon, Rhode Island, Maryland, California, Virginia, and more.
As an expert in veterinary medicine, I urge all dog owners to be vigilant and take precautions to keep their pets safe. If you notice any concerning symptoms in your dog, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian for advice and treatment.
