A mysterious illness similar to canine parvovirus is believed to be the cause of Michigan dogs dying by the dozens in recent weeks, prompting officials to conduct an investigation into the unidentified disease.
Veterinarians are puzzled by the situation and are racing to determine whether the disease is contagious and if there are any treatments. The majority of affected dogs have been under the age of two.
Mysterious Illness Kills Dogs
In a report, the Otsego County Animal Shelter in Gaylord, Michigan, revealed that the illness had already killed more than 20 dogs in the county. Some of the animals died within a few days of showing symptoms.
These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stools, based on a statement released by Melissa FitzGerald, the director of the shelter. FitzGerald said that while veterinarians were not yet sure what the cause of the illness is, the "best guess" is that it is a new strain of parvovirus, which is a disease that particularly affects puppies and causes bouts of bloody diarrhea and vomiting, as per the New York Times.
The state has also found some evidence of parvovirus, which spreads from dog to dog, strikes in their gastrointestinal tracts, and can be lethal. However, when the dogs have been tested for that virus at the clinic, tests have come back negative, said FitzGerald.
She said, "We have not spoken to this until now because we really don't know anything. The only thing is to make sure your pets are vaccinated and, at first sign of illness, get to the veterinarian."
According to the Detroit Free Press, while the cause of the illness is still unclear, authorities wonder whether it is related to the illnesses found in dogs in Europe as early as 2019. Another question is whether the disease can be contracted by humans.
Parvo-Like Virus
On Monday, the state Department of Agriculture said that it was now coordinating with local animal control and vets, the state Association of Animal Control Officers, the federal agriculture department, and the Michigan State University Veterinary lab to investigate the illness.
For the last two months, dozens of dogs in northern Michigan have been affected by the parvo-like illness and showed symptoms. Rudi Hicks, the director of Clare County Animal Control, said that the virus seems to kill dogs within days.
The director of the MSU lab, Kim Dodd, said that they have received a small number of samples to the laboratory and many of them tested positive for canine parvovirus. However, they noted that the more samples they received from animals with clinical signs, the better they are able to definitively explain the cause of the recent outbreak.
State vet Nora Wineland said, "When we learn about these situations, we take action and respond. Understanding all of the circumstances surrounding a case is vital because this information will help us better protect both animal and human health."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chelsea Lewis-Parisio, said that the investigation into the illness was still in its early stages. She noted that additional testing is needed to determine the disease, the Detroit News reported.
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