Callum Jones
A vet has provided some answers to a mystery dog illness that is spreading across the whole of the US.
It comes as the Los Angeles County public health officials announced they were investigating a mysterious respiratory illness which is impacting a rising number of dogs.
Investigators have since refereed to the illness as atypical canine infectious respiratory disease (aCIRD).
Advert
However, the scary part about this is the fact its origin, transmission and treatment are unknown, causing some worry among dog owners.
It's not just LA where the illness is impacting dogs, but it has also spread across several states, including Colorado, Oregon and New Hampshire.
Unfortunately, some of these cases have been fatal - for an illness that currently has no specific diagnosis.
At least ten cases have been reported to the LA County Department of Public Health, with the affected dogs raging from nine months to 11 years, according to the department.
Sadly, one dog has died in Los Angeles, and others have been a bit under the weather since October.
Diagnosis of the mystery illness needs the dog to have either acute pneumonia that progresses rapidly, chronic pneumonia that does not respond well to antibiotics, or a respiratory infection that has lasted for a period of six weeks.
Some of the main symptoms of aCIRD include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge and lethargy.
Public health officials are now warning dog owners to look out for these symptoms, and subsequently advising them to take their pup to the vets if they experience any of them.
Not only that, but it is also advised to isolate the sick dog at home for 28 days after it first becomes ill and the animal should be quarantined from other dogs in the same household for 14 days.
Dr. Lindsey Ganzer, a vet and the owner of North Springs Veterinary Referral Center in Colorado Springs, has treated 35 cases so far.
Speaking to Good Morning America, Ganzer said: "Typical signs are starting with a cough, eye or nasal discharge, progressing to more of a wet cough, lethargy, fever, not wanting to eat.
"You'll notice that their respiratory rate and effort are increased. Their gums might turn blue or purple."
For the time being, Ganzer is advising dog owners against taking their pup to areas where a large number of other dogs will be present.
"Most important thing is to avoid any areas where there are a lot of dogs in that space. So avoid boarding them. Avoid doggie day cares, going to the groomer, going to dog parks," the vet said.