By Raul Castillo
Nov 28, 2023, 9:42 PM EST
A mysterious respiratory disease that affects dogs has already been recorded in at least 14 states in the United States. Initially detected in parts of Oregon earlier this year, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has been closely monitoring the development of this mysterious condition.
Previous reports indicated cases in 11 states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon and Rhode Island.
However, as of Monday, Maryland, Washington and Vermont have also reported incidents, Newsweek reported.
Kurt Williams, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University, mentioned that some dogs have died, although determining the severity and exact number of victims is challenging without a clear definition or conclusive evidence, he told the Associated Press.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented more than 200 cases since mid-August, the outlet mentions.
However, some veterinarians have called for calm, pointing out that the fatal cases represent a small part of those known so far.
rapid pneumonia
The agency is collaborating with state investigations and the National Veterinary Services Laboratory to identify the cause. The Colorado Department of Agriculture warned of a “high number of cases of canine respiratory diseases” with persistent cough, resistant to common treatments and, in some cases, rapidly progressing to pneumonia and death.
David Needle, chief of the pathology section at the University of New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, told Newsweek that the disease defies standard treatments and does not produce positive tests for common pathogens.
Although there is no evidence of transmission between animals and humans, Needle suggests not completely ruling out this possibility.
Symptoms, depending on the environment, include coughing, sneezing, runny nose or eyes, lethargy, and rapid development of severe pneumonia. Some veterinarians have reported blue and purple gums in some cases.
The AVMA urges to monitor for signs of progressive cough, eye/nasal discharge and, if present, consult a veterinarian immediately.
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