MAINE, Maine — State animal health officials tell NEWS CENTER Maine they are monitoring a recent uptick in respiratory illness in dogs. But they are unsure if the cases are linked to a mystery condition that continues to baffle veterinarians in Maine and across the country.
The symptoms include a cough lasting for weeks to months and not responding to typical treatment. Experts said it's the most common in dogs who have been around other dogs, in a kennel or doggie daycare.
Dr. Kate Domenico, a Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care veterinarian, has been treating several dogs with a distinct persistent cough.
"It doesn't make sense in winter that your dog would pant indoors unless they are overheated, so that's a telltale sign," Domenico explained.
Other symptoms include nasal and eye discharge and lethargy.
Domenico is also the president of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association, which has about 500 members. She said veterinarians throughout the state have reported increased symptoms of long-lasting upper respiratory infection known as "kennel cough." In a growing number of cases, dogs are not responding to antibiotics.
"Most adult dogs have been exposed to it before, and they have antibodies, and they can fight this off. Now, these cases are turning into pneumonia, and that's concerning," Domenico said.
The mysterious coughing illness is showing up in dogs in more than a dozen states nationwide but not on diagnostics tests. There is also no national data tracking for canine diseases.
However, Domenico and other veterinarians are sending samples to the University of New Hampshire's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which has been studying the illness since 2022.
Dr. David Needle is one of the researchers who has identified a new pathogen that might make pets sick.
"It could be the primary cause of some of the cases. It's tough to untangle that dogs are coughing at any given time," Needle explained.
He said the findings are based on a few cases from New England states, including New Hampshire. The results must be confirmed in a larger and more geographically diverse sample of dogs, which could lead to possible potential diagnostic tools and treatment.
"If we could characterize it better and understand its genome, there is a potential we could find potential anti-biotic targets," Needle added.
Domenico said the illness is most common in dogs around other dogs, such as dog groomers, dog parks, kennels, or doggy daycare. She urged owners to keep dogs home if they see any signs, but that is not always easy during the holidays, when people are expected to travel.
Pet owners need to ensure their dogs are up to date on the vaccinations and head to their veterinarians if they see symptoms.
"There are going to be more cases of this. I am sure we need to be more vigilant, watching for the clinical signs," Domenico said emphatically.
Meanwhile, the UNH team has shared its results on its website to give veterinarians more information as they deal with outbreaks.
Jim Britt, a team spokesperson with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, released this statement to NEWS CENTER Maine:
In Maine and elsewhere, longer-lasting and potentially more severe cases of an existing respiratory complex, typically known as kennel cough, are being diagnosed by veterinarians. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Animal Health team is monitoring. It will share any new information and updates for animal professionals and the public on its website and newsgroup.
DACF Animal Health has received reports this fall from veterinarians and owners about dogs experiencing respiratory illness ranging from mild to severe, consistent with Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC). In some cases, antibiotics may not be as effective as usual. It is unclear if this is caused by a new pathogen or one of the well-known causes of illness like kennel cough. It remains challenging to quantify the number of dogs in Maine affected because not all cases are reported; some may have milder symptoms, and many do not have diagnostic tests, such as a respiratory panel or testing done too late after the illness started. Bitt said. "We know that certain dogs may be more at risk, including those that visit with other dogs, such as boarding, daycare, dog shows, dog parks, and groomers. Veterinary and animal facilities should continue to monitor dogs coming in for illness and clean routinely with recommended disinfectants. We are recommending that veterinarians conduct testing, including respiratory panels. We are working with our state partners in the northeast and our veterinary community here in Maine to share information and stay current. The University of New Hampshire laboratory continues receiving pooled samples from veterinarians to conduct metagenomic work and learn more about these cases.