A Mystery Fatal Dog Illness Is Spreading—Could Your Pet Be at Risk?

A mystery canine illness, which can in some cases cause death, is spreading, according to reports. The disease which attacks the respiratory system of affected dogs was first spotted in Willamette Valley, Oregon, at the beginning of August and has since increased in incidence.

While the illness has caused concern among dog parents in Oregon, cases across the rest of the U.S. are so far low. Newsweek spoke with Stephen Kochis, Oregon Humane Society's (OHS) chief medical officer, about the risk to pets.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture, through OHS' collaboration with the Oregon Health Authority, has recorded several reports of canine infection respiratory disease complex. Some of these cases have progressed into acute pneumonia and have had fatal consequences in a matter of days. The illness can initially appear similar to the airway infection kennel cough.

The increased number of cases are described as being beyond what would be expected in the fall and winter seasons.

Kochis told Newsweek that despite this increased incidence of the disease, particularly within Salem and Portland in the Willamette Valley, his team at OHS have not noticed anything unusual.

"I've seen nothing unusual both in our shelter population or from our patients at our community veterinary hospital," he said.

Despite witnessing no cases of the infectious disease to date, Kochis and his Oregon-based team are still braced for future difficulty and are working hard to safeguard patients.

According to Kochis, the disease is a cause for concern because of its complex and mysterious nature. He describes the illness as being one that "does not follow the typical disease symptoms" and is difficult to diagnose. Much like other illnesses, a late diagnosis can lead to a less optimistic prognosis.

The ongoing investigation into the issue has been complicated by the fact that canine patients typically test positive for more than one identified pathogen, when being tested for known pathogens on respiratory panels submitted to reference labs.

Central Oregon Daily, a regional broadcaster and news site operating from Bend, reported on November 9 that the disease appears to be resilient to antibiotics.

Kochis responded: "We also believe the organism is viral, therefore antibiotics would not be effective."

The chief medical officer went on to say that treatment for the mystery disease would consist of antibiotics.

"If veterinarians believe they might have a secondary bacterial infection, IV fluids, supportive care, cough suppressants can in some cases be utilized when appropriate," he added.

Could Your Pet Be at Risk?

Although the illness can be fatal, Kochis said that dog owners should not at this stage worry about the situation.

"At this point in time, while there does appear to be an over-representation of these cases beyond what would be expected, the information to date does not indicate a widespread outbreak," he said.

"Further to that, a new respiratory infectious agent has yet to be identified," he added.

While Kochis said there is still much to learn, he advised dog owners to take their dog to a vet if they are showing any sign of respiratory disease, such as coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing.

Before a symptomatic dog is assessed by a veterinarian, they should be isolated in the home from other puppies and dogs, and should remain isolated until they receive treatment.

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Update 11/16/23, 10:06 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information on the treatability of the disease from Stephen Kochis.