A mysterious respiratory illness sickening dogs is reportedly spreading across the country. Veterinarians are scrambling to determine its causes and the best treatment methods.
The symptoms are similar to kennel cough, an upper respiratory infection, but can last much longer and, in some cases, prove fatal, according to veterinarians.The infected dogs develop a cough, fever, lethargy and intermittent loss of appetite. While infected, some dogs will develop pneumonia. Veterinarians have reported seeing blue and purple gums in those cases.Dogs with kennel cough may show some of these symptoms, such as coughing, lack of appetite, fever and lethargy. If it’s kennel cough, the symptoms usually clear up in one to three weeks. With the latest respiratory illness, however, veterinarians are reporting that dogs can have symptoms for six weeks or more.The illness has been found in at least seven states: Colorado, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Illinois, Maryland and Wyoming.
Now, researchers at the University of New Hampshire have revealed that they have identified the bacteria causing this canine disease.
Dr David Needle, a veterinary pathologist who led the research, said it was a ‘funky’ organism — that is as yet unnamed — and had not been observed before.His team found the bug by performing forensic tests on 70 dogs who’d developed the tell-tale symptoms over the last two years.Speaking to NBC News, he said this was ‘new as a potential cause of disease, but it is likely to be — or to have evolved from — a component of the dog microbiome [millions of bacteria found inside the animals’ gut].’He also described the bacteria as being smaller than other types and said it had few specific genetic characteristics – making it harder to detect.
The research will soon be published. The New Hampshire scientists theorize that pathogens evolved from the dog microbiome (the microscopic organisms within a dog’s digestive system).
The germ “is new as a potential cause of disease, but it is likely to be— or to have evolved from — a component of the dog microbiome,” he said. Dogs as well as humans have multiple types of harmless bacteria and other microorganisms living both inside and outside the body. In the gut, they are thought to aid in digestion.The bacterium was discovered after a painstaking search.“After initial sequencing showed there were no known viral, bacterial or fungal pathogens, time consuming and dogged work by graduate student Lawrence Gordon showed that 21 of the initial 30 samples from New Hampshire had some genetic material from one atypical bacterial species,” Needle said.
While veterinary science continues to look for treatment options, dog owners are advised to follow common sense guidelines applicable to other canine respiratory illnesses.
Dog owners should help keep their pets healthy by making sure they’re up-to-date on all vaccines, such as those for canine influenza, Bordetella and parainfluenza, the association said. Other tips include:
• Reducing contact with large numbers of unknown dogs. Just like with other respiratory pathogens, the more contacts your dog has, the greater the risk of encountering a dog that’s infectious.• Reducing contact with sick dogs. This can be harder to determine but if a dog looks sick (coughing, runny nose, runny eyes), keep your dog away from it.• Keep sick dogs at home and seek veterinary care.• Avoid communal water bowls shared by multiple dogs.
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