WESTLAKE, Ohio — Scientists may be moving closer to finding the cause for that contagious mystery illness in dogs. It has sickened dogs in 15 states, including three that border Ohio, though it has not been confirmed here.
According to scientists at the University of New Hampshire's Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory and the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, they used genetic sequencing of samples from 70 dogs, to identify a pathogen, that may be causing the illness, NBC News reported.
The developments are encouraging, but little comfort to those with quickly approaching holiday travel plans.
Veterinarians have advised owners to avoid dog parks, doggy day cares - anywhere that pups will be in close contact, and communal water bowls.
We checked in at Camp Bow Wow in Westlake, which is busy for the holidays. It looked like business as usual in the play yards and cabins, but there is communication about this respiratory bug, with a very worrisome bite.
We recently spoke with Dr. Katie Frantz, Critical Care Specialist at VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists in Warrensville Heights, who went over symptoms for viewers.
Symptoms include: persistent cough lasting as long as six to eight weeks, labored breathing, very low energy, as well as discharge from the eyes and nose.
"The scariest of them all is it can cause a really rapid onset of pneumonia where patients can go into respiratory failure and die as early as one to two days," Dr. Frantz said.
Boarding facilities, like Camp Bow Wow are closely monitoring news about the illness, and keeping up with procedures to keep your pets safe. They require all dogs be up-to-date on Bordetella, Distemper, and rabies vaccines. The facility has strict standards about water bowls as well as cleaning and disinfecting areas multiple times a day. They also stress keeping lines of communication open with clients is critical in helping to keep "campers" healthy.
"If we see a rise in cases of any sort of illness, we alert pet owners so that they can then keep a better eye on their dogs before and look for the symptoms, seek early prevention, and keep them isolated from other dogs just to help prevent the spread," said Nigel McMillion, manager at Camp Bow Wow. That includes letting the boarding facility know if your dog becomes sick within a short time of returning home from a stay.
If you are boarding this holiday season make sure to ask your facility about their sanitation protocols. Be clear on what their procedures are if a dog gets sick. And make sure you have a back-up plan, someone who can step in if your dog becomes ill while you're away.
Putting in this important work - before heading out for the holidays, can help make your reunion all the sweeter, once you get home.