BOSTON – A nationwide epidemic of a mysterious dog disease has some pet owners worried about taking them on walks. Should people avoid other dogs? How about the bowl of water outside the store? The worrying questions are mounting, so we spoke to the experts.
“This is not new. We’ve been seeing these cases since the fall of 2022,” said Dr. Camille Alander, a veterinarian at Bond Vet in Boston. “As long as your dog is healthy and vaccinated, there’s nothing they can’t do at this point.”
Local veterinarians say the disease is not as threatening as people think, but all public dog bowls should be avoided. They can carry a variety of illnesses, including mystery illnesses or leptospirosis, which affects the kidneys and liver.
This mysterious illness is similar to kennel cough and often progresses to pneumonia. Currently, the disease’s causative agent doesn’t show up on typical tests, so veterinarians aren’t sure if it’s a virus or bacteria. Veterinarians advise people to make sure their groomers and day care centers require vaccinations before sending their pets to these facilities.
“My advice to pet owners is, think about your dog, if your dog had these symptoms, would you go see a doctor? The same goes for your pet,” Dr. Alander explains. “I see a lot of dog owners who come in after their pet coughs once or twice. If they’re lethargic, or not eating, or coughing up something, if their nose is yellow or sticky discharge, these are things worth worrying about.”
Dr. Olander says it’s okay to allow your dog to interact with other animals if your dog is vaccinated. She advises pet owners to monitor other dogs to make sure they appear healthy and are not coughing.
This mysterious disease may pose a greater threat to pets prone to respiratory illnesses. These breeds have flat faces or short noses, like pugs or French bulldogs.
