- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
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.
I wonder if they’ve tested the dogs for COVID. I know there were some concerns early on about whether or not dogs could get COVID; but now I’m wondering if it’s possible COVID has made the jump to dogs.
I’m very concerned that it could be a new strain of avian flu which has already shown up in European fox farms as well as domestic cats.
I think it was confirmed near the start that dogs could get it.
Good point. I’m sure the medical professionals didn’t think of - what did you call it? Covid? - during their medical evaluation of respiratory disease.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Bit of a dick today, aren’t we?
deleted by creator
It says it does not respond to antibiotics.
“Hey, I’ve seen this one!”
Anecdotal evidence I have noticed of late.
I came down with covid a month ago. It resolved within a week to ten days, oof that fever and headache.
A friend 300km away had his house down with it a week later. Their dog then started displaying respiratory virus symptoms. I have not visited these folks in almost 2yrs.
My ex has cats who live 100km in the other direction. They are sneezing and have goopy eyes now too.
I moved two weeks ago. This is the only time my cat has experienced the outdoors in years. As she was carried to the car / new place.
She is now exhibiting respiratory virus symptoms.
All anecdoatal, far too small sample size, and it could be the stress of the move reignited something else for her… But i have noticed the odd seeming frequency of overlap with canine and feline respiratory issues, and people, of late.
Not enough details in this news story to figure out if it’s just one reporter taking an interview and really spinning it out of proportion. All articles I can find come from the same source.
I can say that all 4 of my dogs caught it.
They’re still alive, but my 13 year old has not and probably won’t return to full function. He’s got some pretty significant scarring on his lungs. We are in one of the affected states, and they caught it from the neighbors’ dogs who brought it home from the groomers.
It’s definitely in my area.
Poor puppies. I hope they do end up feeling better. While respectful of your privacy, your general state or area would be?
I’m in Oregon. Straight down the i-5 from Portland, which is where I understand it to have started
As someone who lives in Washington and reads the regional news every day, I can confirm that this is not the first time it has been reported upon. Originally, it was talking about the illness only being in the Portland area.
Link, please?