Illness Affecting Dogs
Health officials in Maine are keeping an eye on a recent increase in a mysterious respiratory illness in dogs. This puzzling condition is confusing veterinarians not only in Maine but across the whole country.
Dogs with this illness show symptoms like a persistent cough that lasts for weeks or even months, and regular treatments don’t seem to help. The illness is more common in dogs that have been around other dogs, like at a kennel or doggie daycare.
Dr. Kate Domenico, a veterinarian in Portland, has been treating dogs with this strange cough. She mentioned that it’s odd for dogs to pant indoors during winter unless they are too hot, which is a sign of this illness. Other signs include runny nose, eye discharge, and low energy.
Dr. Domenico, who is also the president of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association, said many veterinarians in the state are noticing more cases of a prolonged upper respiratory infection, commonly known as “kennel cough.” What’s worrying is that some dogs aren’t getting better even with antibiotics, and the illness is turning into pneumonia.
This mysterious coughing problem is happening in more than a dozen states, but it’s not showing up on regular tests. There’s no national data tracking for dog diseases either. Veterinarians are sending samples to the University of New Hampshire’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which has been studying this illness since 2022.
Dr. David Needle, one of the researchers, found a new pathogen that might be making pets sick. However, this discovery needs confirmation with more samples from different areas. If confirmed, it could help develop better tools to diagnose and treat the illness.
Dr. Domenico suggests that owners keep their dogs home if they see any signs of illness, but she understands it might be tricky during the holidays when people travel. She emphasizes the importance of keeping dogs’ vaccinations up to date and visiting the vet if there are any symptoms.
While the UNH team shares their findings on their website to help veterinarians, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry’s Animal Health team is also monitoring the situation. They encourage veterinarians to stay updated and conduct testing to learn more about this mysterious illness affecting our furry friends.
bangor.today/c/spotlight/featured/(opens in a new tab)
Check out our featured articles: https://bangor.today/c/spotlight/featured/
