US veterinarians are racing to find the cause of a mystery dog sickness that is causing alarm.

 US veterinarians are racing to find the cause of a mystery dog sickness that is causing alarm.

Some dogs have died from the illness, which has worried pet owners.

                                                                        Source geo.tv

In numerous US states, dogs are developing a mystery and potentially fatal respiratory disease that has doctors stumped and searching for answers. 

The disease first manifests as a chronic cough that lasts for weeks and is resistant to common medications like antibiotics. Some dogs have already died from this mysterious illness, which has worried veterinarians and pet owners alike.

CEO of North Springs Veterinary Referral Center Dr. Lindsey Ganzer discusses the illness's quick course, pointing out that it went from a persistent cough to serious pneumonia very quickly. Since mid-October, the number of cases at her hospital has increased, affecting about thirty pets, and the trend doesn't appear to be slowing down.

Dog owners are understandably concerned, but Dr. Kurt Williams of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostics Lab advises being careful without becoming paralyzed. He recommends taking preventative steps, like minimizing interactions with other dogs and making sure immunizations are current, particularly for respiratory illnesses.

Dogs that test negative for typical respiratory illnesses but show symptoms including coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes or nose, and exhaustion are thought to be affected by this mystery ailment. Veterinary professionals are urged to submit cases to support ongoing investigations, as the Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented over 200 cases in the state since mid-August.

In contrast to the regular fall reduction in veterinary settings, Dr. Amanda Cavanagh of Colorado State University James L Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital observes an odd surge in coughing cases. Sorting instances under inquiry into different causes of canine cough is difficult and takes time to rule out known factors.

Given that the cases are contagious, Dr. Williams hypothesizes the existence of a virus. He does, however, stress the importance of an unbiased investigation of other reasons. Three symptoms indicate the illness: persistent cough, persistent pneumonia that does not improve with medication, or severe pneumonia that does not improve in 24 to 36 hours.

Beyond Oregon, states including Colorado, New Hampshire, California, Indiana, Illinois, Washington, Idaho, Georgia, and Florida are also affected by the outbreak. The American Veterinary Medical Association keeps an eye on the situation and emphasizes that the illness's etiology is unknown.

Source geo.tv