Veterinarians across the nation are raising concerns over an increasing number of dogs presenting with coughing symptoms, a situation that is causing alarm among pet owners and experts alike. Wendy Brown, an Idaho resident, experienced this firsthand with her three golden retrievers — Bridge, Dooley, and Lulu.
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In early November, Brown noticed worrying signs in her pets. “Dooley started doing kind of this huffing and also seemed to feel quite lethargic,” Brown shared with “Good Morning America.” Soon after, Bridge and Lulu followed suit, displaying similar symptoms. Initially, Brown suspected a typical kennel cough, but the persistence and severity of their conditions suggested something more concerning.
After a visit to the vet, Dooley was put on a 10-day cycle of doxycycline. However, Brown reported no significant improvement in his condition, deepening her concern over the unknown illness.
Veterinary experts, like Amanda Cavanagh from Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, confirmed that this mysterious illness appears highly contagious and potentially fatal. Symptoms mirror those of kennel cough, including coughing, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, and lethargy. However, Cavanagh noted a shift from a dry to a wet cough, indicating a more serious ailment, possibly even pneumonia.
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Given the contagious nature of the illness, Cavanagh advises pet owners to seek veterinary care for dogs showing consistent coughing. Advanced diagnostics like lung ultrasounds can help identify if the cause is related to pneumonia or the contagious strain currently circulating. Additionally, she recommends isolating coughing dogs from others and continuing this isolation for two weeks after symptoms subside, to curb the spread of this enigmatic illness. As research continues, the veterinary community is on high alert, working to understand and combat this emerging health threat to canines.