What Is The Mysterious Sickness Affecting Dogs In Illinois?

Veterinarians are perplexed by an illness infecting dogs in 10 states, including Illinois.

It can be a challenge as dog owners to figure out what's wrong with our pups when they get sick. We know there's something clearly wrong, but they're not human and we don't know how to clearly diagnose them. But a curveball has been thrown at dog owners in Illinois and 9 other states.

What We Do Know

A report obtained by NBC Chicago says that the sickness is respiratory and can be fatal to pups.

It's resistant to antibiotics and is like pneumonia, according to officials.

It's thought to be contagious. Dogs are most likely to contract it by coming into contact with other dogs, whether that be at a dog park, the groomer, or at a kennel. As the sickness spreads, vets are encouraging dog owners to not take their pups around other dogs.

Another state the sickness was reported in, Oregon, found that one category of the sickness resulted in "acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24-36 hours".

What To Watch For In Your Pup

The sickness starts as a cough and gets worse. So you're advised to watch out for these symptoms:

• coughing
• sneezing
• discharge from the eyes or nose
• trouble breathing
• fatigue

Experts stress that you need to take your dog to a vet as soon as you see symptoms and make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccinations. Besides Oregon and Illinois, the other states impacted include Colorado, New Hampshire, California, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Florida, and Georgia.

Illinois dog owners are encouraged to talk to their vets before taking your dog to be around other pups.