Mysterious Disease Killing Dogs In Northern Michigan

MICHIGAN — A mysterious illness has killed dozens of dogs in northern Michigan and left authorities searching for answers.

The disease is similar to parvovirus, officials said, and causes vomiting and bloody diarrhea in dogs, leaving them dead within days. However, in many cases, parvo tests of the animals have come back negative, according to the Otsego County Animal Shelter, although State Veterinarian Nora Wineland said some early samples were positive for parvo.

The illness has mainly been affecting elderly dogs and those under age 2, according to the Otsego shelter, which reported more than 20 dogs dead of the disease in the county.

“No one has an answer,” the shelter said earlier in August in a Facebook post. “The best ‘guess’ is that this is a strain of parvo.”

Clare County Animal Control Director Rudi Hicks told the county board last week that over 30 local dogs had died of the disease, and urged pet owners not to walk their dogs or take them to parks, the Clare County Cleaver reported.

Wineland instructed dog owners to keep their pets up-to-date on routine vaccines, fully vaccinate all pets before allowing them to interact with other dogs, keep dogs away from other dogs if they are ill and contact a veterinarian, and pick up after dogs in public. She also noted canine parvo is not contagious to people or other animals.