10 Cases Of Mystery Dog Illness Found In LA, Prompting Health Warning

LOS ANGELES, CA — At least 10 cases of a mysterious and deadly respiratory disease afflicting dogs have been confirmed in Los Angeles County, health officials reported Tuesday. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has opened an investigation into the origin of the illness and its spread locally.

In the meantime, health officials are also warning residents to take precautions with their pets.

The mysterious illness, which has proven to be somewhat resistant to antibiotics, has sickened hundreds of dogs across the country. Among the symptoms are a persistent cough that can last days, weeks or months, nasal discharge, sneezing and lethargy.

"Since Thursday, November 16, 2023, we have received ten case reports from veterinarians of dogs that have respiratory illness but tested negative on the respiratory panel that tests for common viruses and bacteria seen in dogs with similar symptoms," the county health department announced in a written statement. "Owners are being contacted to determine where the dogs may have become infected. We are communicating with federal and state entities to ensure coordinated efforts as we learn more from our ongoing investigations."

"Currently, Public Health is in case-finding mode to determine if and to what extent there is a new respiratory illness impacting dogs in Los Angeles County," the department added.

The illness is being called the Atypical Canine Infection Respiratory Disease. It's been found from Massachusetts to Oregon where more than 200 cases have been reported.

Infected dogs are testing negative for common viruses and bacteria identified in dogs with similar symptoms, in addition to having of of the following symptoms:

• Chronic mild-moderate respiratory infection that lasts more than six weeks that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics;
• Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics; or
• Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24-36 hours.

Health officials are urging owners who believe their pet may be infected to contact their veterinarian and isolate the animal at home for at least 28 days from the time symptoms developed.

Additionally, owners of sickened dogs are instructed to clean and disinfect surfaces and animal equipment.

Dogs should also be kept away from day care, boarding kennels, grooming facilities and dog parks.

If a dog becomes sick after being boarded, owners are urged to quickly seek veterinary care for their pet and notify the boarding facility about the illness.