Mysterious dog illness arrives in Maine, vet says

A veterinarian in Brewer says she’s confident the mysterious illness affecting dogs across the country has arrived in Maine.

According to the Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic, they treated at least six dogs experiencing severe respiratory symptoms Monday night alone. They know other local clinics are seeing it, as well.

The co-medical director in Brewer says while there’s still a lot of unknowns about the illness, they believe it’s spread snout-to-snout.

Most importantly, if you notice something off, call your vet.

“If they’re coughing and acting normally, it’s probably okay to monitor. But, if you’re seeing a cough, lethargy, decreased appetite, and your dog’s just not acting normal, the quicker you get veterinary care, the better it is. It’s the patients who wait four or five days of acting sick that are getting really critical and oxygen dependent. So, if we catch them in the first day or two, they’re doing okay at home on oral antibiotics,” said Dr. Ai Takeuchi, co-medical director, of EMEVC.

Takeuchi says in most of the cases she’s seen, the exposure has happened at doggy daycare or a kennel.

If your dog is exposed, keep them at home. Even if they’re initially acting fine, it can take around seven days for symptoms to occur.

To protect your dog, keep them away from other pups as best you can.

Symptoms of the Illness

The symptoms of the illness vary from dog to dog, but some of the most common include:

Lethargy

Loss of appetite

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Seizures

In some cases, dogs have also exhibited neurological symptoms, such as tremors and weakness.

Cause of the Illness Unknown

The cause of the illness is unknown, and veterinarians are still working to identify it. Some possible causes include a virus, bacteria, or toxin. However, at this time, there is no definitive answer.

Veterinarians Urge Dog Owners to Be Vigilant

Veterinarians are urging dog owners to be vigilant and to watch their dogs for signs of illness. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, please take your dog to the vet immediately.

Treatment for the Illness

There is no specific treatment for the illness at this time. However, veterinarians can provide supportive care, such as fluids and electrolytes, to help dogs recover.

Prevention of the Illness

There is no known way to prevent the illness. However, veterinarians recommend that dog owners keep their dogs up-to-date on vaccinations and avoid taking them to places where they may be exposed to other dogs that are sick.

Veterinarians Optimistic about Outcome

While the cause of the illness is unknown and there is no specific treatment, veterinarians are optimistic that most dogs will make a full recovery. They are also working closely with the Maine Department of Agriculture to monitor the situation and to learn more about the illness.

Community Comes Together to Support Affected Dogs

The community has come together to support dogs affected by the illness. Several animal shelters are providing discounted or free care for dogs with the illness. There are also several online fundraisers that have been set up to help pay for the veterinary care of affected dogs.

Veterinarians Optimistic about Outcome

While the cause of the illness is unknown and there is no specific treatment, veterinarians are optimistic that most dogs will make a full recovery. They are also working closely with the Maine Department of Agriculture to monitor the situation and to learn more about the illness.

The Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) is closely monitoring the situation and is providing updates to veterinarians and the public.