A mystery respiratory illness in dogs is spreading across the country. While veterinarians don’t know much about the sickness, they have some recommendations to avoid the potentially deadly disease.
Veterinarians have detected an unusual respiratory illness affecting dogs in 10 states across the country.
Since August, the perplexing illness was reported in 200 cases in Oregon.
Dr. Amanda Cavanagh – head of urgent care services at Colorado State University James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Fort Collins, Colorado – told the “Today” show that she has seen dogs suffering from coughing bouts that last several weeks and even months since the summer and into the fall. Cavanaugh noted that the cases have doubled in the past month or so.
Cavanagh noted that the pneumonia can be “really severe,” and some of the dogs have died or had to be euthanized.
“It seems to happen very, very quickly – to go from this cough that just won’t go away … and then all of a sudden they develop this pneumonia,” said Lindsey Ganzer – veterinarian and CEO at North Springs Veterinary Referral Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Ganzer added that the sickness seems to develop “very, very quickly.”
Kevin Snekvik – Executive…
