A MYSTERIOUS variant of a disease is rapidly spreading between dogs in the US – and the fatal bug is ALREADY in Britain.
The disease is referred to as a Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) – but the new strain is atypical and vets have no idea what’s causing it.
GettyThere are a selection of symptoms that could mean your dog has come down with the disease[/caption]
Brits are being warned about the disease after it first started being seen in four different states in the US – Oregon, Colorado, New Hampshire and Los Angeles,
The illness is an atypical version of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD), which is commonly known as ‘kennel cough’ in the UK – and is the cause of one out of every 100 vet visits.
CIRD is one of the most common bugs dogs can get in the UK and the new disease is a variant of it – meaning that it could easily become prevalent in Britain.
The disease can spread rapidly between dogs as they socialise together, so any activity that involves multiple four-poured friends in the same area puts them at risk.
UK website MSD Animal Health says: “CIRD is a social dog disease that can affect dogs of all ages and causes sporadic illness as well as outbreaks.
“There are very few dogs that do not socialise or mix with other dogs in some form or other, for example, whether that is meeting other dogs whilst being exercised, at doggy day care centres, gathered in close proximity with other dogs at the grooming parlour, and all these dogs are at risk for CIRD.
“Prevention by utilising vaccination for these individuals is an important consideration.”
The atypical variation, however, is not in-keeping with the standard definition of the disease – and every test tried for common viruses and bacteria specific to dogs has come back negative.
Symptoms of the horrible disease include a lack of energy, sneezing and nasal discharge – which can resemble kennel cough – but instead can morph into pneumonia if undiagnosed and left untreated.
Pet owners are being warned to take as many precautions as possible, as it can develop within 24 to 36 hours and has proved fatal in some cases.
As it stands the youngest case was only nine months old, and the oldest was an 11-year-old, reports the Mirror.
Dr. Lindsey Ganzer, a vet and the owner of North Springs Veterinary Referral Center in Colorado Springs, told Good Morning America that other signs include eye discharge, a wet cough, fever, no appetite and lethargy.
What are the symptoms?
The new strain has a selection of signs that could mean your four-pawed pal may have been struck by the disease – and if you notice any of them you should book a consultation with your vet just to be sure.
1. Loss of appetite
2. Eye/nasal dischathe
3. A wet cough
4. Experience lethargy
5. A fever
It’s not the only troubling news pet owners are facing, as they were warned about a terrifying “flesh-eating” disease which has killed hundreds of dogs.
And at the tail-end of last year, three people in Britain fell ill with a terrifying new disease spreading between pets and their owners.
Finally, a vet has issued a stark warning about a deadly disease in dogs that can stay contagious on outdoor surfaces for years.
Dr Savageau urged dog owners to “protect your pup” before the disease takes hold of their immune system.
GettySo far, the youngest case was only nine months old, and the oldest was an 11-year-old[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
