Pet owners have been on high alert as a mysterious respiratory illness in canines has swept the nation and puzzled veterinarians who have not been able to identify the pathogen.
Little is known about the unknown respiratory disease, which does not respond to antibiotics and has sickened dogs across the country, leading to death in some.
“In many cases — certainly in my household — the dog is like very much part of the family, and so it’s really alarming to know that there is this threat,” Dr. Gabrielle Fadl, a New York City veterinarian at Bond Vet, told The Post.
But she said that the “unknown” is the “scariest part” of the illness — which is still being researched — and that there are proactive steps dog owners can take to keep their furry Fidos safe.
“For now, what I think is really important is kind of prevention and avoidance of these higher risk areas,” said Fadl, who has seen an increase in pups with respiratory symptoms at the clinic.
This means your pup needs to be up-to-date on vaccines, and should not frequent high traffic areas for pooches, such as dog parks, daycares or kennels, which may be difficult as owners travel for the holidays and are forced to board their pet.
“If you can avoid it, having maybe a pet sitter come to your house or a dog walker several times a day, that might be preferable, if possible,” said Fadl.
And, in big cities, it is especially challenging to keep canines away from each other, making every street a high-traffic — and therefore high-risk — area for your furry friend.
“I know in New York, we tend to see lots of dogs on the corner saying hi to each other,” she added.
Young, elderly or immunocompromised canines are especially at risk, she warned.
“It’s really good that we try not to panic, but try to take these precautions,” she said.
But the symptoms of this mystery, unnamed illness mimic those of common canine sickness, such as influenza or Bordetella, which causes kennel cough.
Pooches may present with sneezing, coughing, nose or eye discharge, fatigue and difficulty breathing.
But unlike common canine illnesses — which resolve in a matter of a few days — this unknown pathogen seems to sicken dogs for days on end.
In some cases, coughing is present for weeks, and, if the illness progresses, acute pneumonia may develop and advance to a more severe sickness, and even death in rare instances, in a number of days.
The ASPCA told The Post that, while the non-profit had “not seen an uptick in cases” of respiratory illness in their patients, pet owners should “remain vigilant.”
Fortunately, most cases are mild and won’t be fatal, Fadl assured.
But if it seems like your precious pup isn’t getting better — or is getting worse — after a few days, seek veterinary attention, she recommended.
“Good signs to look out for that might push you to go to a vet sooner rather than later is if they lose their appetite, if they’re low energy, if you notice that the discharge from their eyes or nose looks yellow, green [or] white, rather than just clear,” she explained.
“All of those symptoms, I would say, would warrant a trip to the vet.”