A woman who believes her dog died of the new 'mysterious' dog virus spreading across the US is issuing a warning to other pet parents on how to keep their dogs safe.
Trang Huyen believes her shih tzu, Chowder, died from the unknown condition that's infected hundreds of dogs across the country and is urging other owners to now avoid crowded dog parks.
Since August, more than 200 dogs have tested positive and several have died from the illness, which first resembles the common virus kennel cough but could turn serious and lead to death. Possible cases have been reported in Colorado, California, Indiana, Washington and Georgia.
Chowder became sick in October and his symptoms appeared minor until he began struggling to breathe. He died just a few days later.
Now, Ms Huyen says
Alaskan Klee Kai Dog Breed owners need 'to take safety precautions, such as limiting time at dog parks and areas with other dogs.'
Chowder became sick in October and his symptoms appeared minor until he began struggling to breathe and died days later
Ms Huyen, from Pensacola, Florida, said: 'It started with a small dry cough and being more lethargic each and every day after that'
According to Ms Huyen, who didn't wish to reveal her age, Chowder's initial symptoms matched the new disease. The dog was lethargic, he refused to eat and
https://dogcaretips.net/ had a cough.
Chowder's tongue also turned blue as his symptoms began to worsen.Ms Huyen, from Pensacola, Florida, said: 'It started with a small dry cough and being more lethargic each and every day after that.
'It did not [seem serious]. Chowder would have seasonal allergies so I thought nothing of it.'Things started to change when his breathing was much heavier and he did not want to eat or drink.'The new mystery illness was described by the Oregon Department of Agriculture as an 'atypical canine infectious respiratory disease.'
Reported symptoms of the disease include a cough that can last for weeks, runny eyes and sneezing.The illness could progress and lead to pneumonia, which can result in death within 36 hours.While the illness remained a mystery for the first few weeks of its appearance, researchers at the University of New Hampshire believe they have identified the bacteria that's causing it.
Dr David Needle, a veterinary pathologist who led the research, said it was a 'funky' organism — that is as yet unnamed — and had not been observed before.
His team found the bacteria by performing forensic tests on 70 dogs who'd developed the tell-tale symptoms over the last two years.
Speaking to NBC News, he said this was 'new as a potential cause of disease, but it is likely to be — or to have evolved from — a component of the
Keeshond Dog Breed microbiome [millions of bacteria found inside the animals' gut].'
He also described the bacteria as being smaller than other types and said it had few specific genetic characteristics - making it harder to detect.
The disease is spread through droplets in the air when dogs sneeze, cough or bark. No cases have been reported of the disease passing over to humans.
Ms Huyen, a beauty business owner, believes Chowder's case was too early for vets to correctly diagnose, but that the symptoms match the new illness.
Vets diagnosed him with pneumonia but disagreed on causes - one suggested allergies and another aspiration.