A mysterious canine illness is being found in dogs in several states across America, vets have warned.
Sixteen states have now recorded cases of Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, or aCIRDC. Last week, Nevada and Pennsylvania joined the list after reporting cases of the respiratory illness.
The disease is being likened to kennel cough – a common respiratory illness – but it seems to be lingering longer than typical canine illnesses.
Alarm bells were first sounded in November when states began reporting long-term cases of an illness with similar symptoms to kennel cough.
Reported symptoms so far have been typical of a kennel cough and they include a dry cough, sneezing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, fever, nasal and/or eye discharge and a loss of appetite. Severe cases can even result in death.
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But symptoms appear to be lasting much longer, with kennel cough cases usually lasting less than three weeks.
Amanda Cavanagh, the section head of the urgent care service at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, said the mysterious illness causes a wet cough in dogs – different to typical symptoms.
She told Good Morning America that any dog showing signs of illness should be brought to a vet to be examined.
Another vet has said the illness is often similar to the cold and flu for humans, with an increase expected during the winter months.
“This is something that we expect. Just like humans with the cold season, dogs have a cold season as well,” Dr Whitney Hough from STATVet Animal Urgent Care in Oklahoma told News on 6.
“These cases are expected to have an uptick during this time of year.
“I think that it’s important for veterinarians and pet owners to not panic right now.”
Hough warned dog owners to be mindful of socialising their dogs and keeping an eye out for other pets with coughing or wheezing symptoms.
She continued: “The best things I can say for owners during this season particularly, especially with us worried about this upper respiratory infection going around, you want to choose a boarding or day care facility that requires dogs to be up to date on their vaccines.”
