Experts Issue Recommendations for Dog Owners Amid Highly Contagious Canine Illness

Experts have issued a series of recommendations for dog owners amid the spread of a mysterious canine illness in some states across the United States. Little is known about the disease, although the initial outbreak was first identified in Willamette Valley, Oregon in early August, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). The department has so far received 200 written reports from veterinarians, according to reports. Cases of the mystery illness—which officials say attacks the respiratory system of affected dogs and causes symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, and lethargy—have since spread to other states. Earlier this week, a dog shelter in San Diego temporarily paused intake of owner-surrendered dogs until Dec. 1, citing the “highly contagious illness.” In that case, the shelter cited Streptococcus Equi subspecies Zooepidemicus (also known as Strep Zoo) as well as a bacterial infection called Mycoplasma....