Title: Mysterious Respiratory Illness in Lower 48 has State Vets on Alert for Alaskan Dogs
Alaska’s state veterinarian is asking pet owners and clinics in the state to be on the lookout for a mysterious respiratory illness that has sickened dogs in over a dozen U.S. states, but has not yet been detected in Alaska.
Dr. Bob Gerlach, the state veterinarian, said that while the illness, detected in the U.S. as early as this summer, produces symptoms similar to kennel cough such as coughing, sneezing, runny eyes, lethargy, and fever, it does not respond to normal medication and often lasts more than a week.
The cause of the illness has baffled researchers and has been linked to multiple dog deaths. “They’ve done a lot of screening and testing, and they don’t even know what’s causing the illness, or whether it’s a new virus or a different strain of virus that’s causing a problem,” said Gerlach.
He encourages dog owners to take precautions, such as avoiding large groups of unfamiliar dogs or communal water bowls, and to keep sick dogs at home. He also recommended that pet owners call pet boarding facilities and grooming salons ahead of time to ask their illness prevention protocols.
A letter distributed to all active members of the Alaska Veterinary Medical Association has also asked for help with surveillance and detection. The letter listed several symptoms consistent with the unidentified illness for veterinarians to watch for.
While the illness has not yet been detected in Alaska, Gerlach noted that several states where the illness has been identified are closer to Alaska, including Washington, Oregon, and California. He said it wasn’t clear whether this geographical closeness could mean increased risk to Alaska pets in the coming days and weeks.
Alaska has less state-to-state pet traffic than other states, “so our risk is going to be a little bit lower. But we’re always trying to go ahead and be preventative and be precautionary,” he said.
For now, Gerlach encourages pet owners to be cautious and to consult their regular veterinarian if their dogs show any symptoms.