CLEVELAND — Concerns continue to grow from dog owners as a mysterious respiratory infection in canines is sweeping the nation.
Ahead of the busiest travel time of the year, experts are offering a warning for your four-legged friends taking a trip with you.
"We're kind of warning pet owners to minimize travel with dogs because this does appear to be a very contagious respiratory disease. Because we don't know exactly what organism is causing it, we don't know exactly how contagious it is right now or the mode of transmission," said Dr. Katie Frantz, VCA Veterinarian and Critical Care Specialist in Warrensville Heights.
The illness starts with a persistent cough which can last as long as six to eight weeks and not respond to traditional antibiotics prescribed by your vet.
Coughing, lethargy and discharge from your dog's eyes and nose are the top symptoms to watch for, but they may also not be eating as much and have labored breathing.
"Kind of the scariest of them all is it can cause a really rapid onset pneumonia where patients can go into respiratory failure and die as early as one to two days," Frantz added.
Besides minimizing travel, veterinary experts also suggest that you limit your dog's exposure to other dogs.
This includes boarding them or having them in doggy daycare settings. Consider in-home dog sitters when possible, while avoiding dog parks and communal water bowls.
"It's a little bit tricky because we are just now learning this may be an atypical respiratory disease, so the patients who are being treated for pneumonia...this is now a new consideration," Frantz said.
One thing you can do to help protect your dog is make sure they are up to date on their preventative care, including vaccinations.