Veterinarians across the country are concerned about a mysterious respiratory disease that has affected hundreds of dogs. The illness is difficult to treat and has been causing concern as more people board their dogs during the holiday season or travel with them.
According to a summation by the American Veterinary Medical Association, this illness is marked by an inflamed airway. It can last up to eight weeks and cause chronic pneumonia, which does not respond to antibiotics. The kennel-cough disease is usually only 7-10 days long.
The AVMA reports that some dogs suffer from “acute pneumonitis which can become severe in 24 to 36 hours and lead to poor outcomes.”
According to The New York Times, the illness has been spreading in Oregon for several months. It has also been found in dogs from Colorado, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Slideshow: Things You Did Not Know About Dogs and Cats
1/27
Dog Kisses can make you sick.
Do you think that dogs have a cleaner mouth than humans? Could you not believe it? The bacteria and parasites in dogDog’s chops can harbor salmonella or campylobacter. These bacteria can enter a dog’s body when it eats spoiled food or uses its tongue to wipe itself. A kiss can spread these germs, possibly causing diarrhea and a nasty case.
2/27
Humans can make pets sick.
Not often, but it does happen. The H1N1 flu has affected cats, dogs, and ferrets. Their sick owners contracted it. Vets recommend frequent handwashing and separate bedding when an owner is ill. Both dogs and humans can share the same strains of E. coli bacteria. MRSA, also known as the “superbug,” is also spread between dogs and humans.
3/27
Myth: Babies’ breath is stolen by cats
This superstition dates back to the early 1700s. People were quick to blame the cat in a crib when babies died from sudden infant death syndrome. Soft toys, illnesses, and a position in which the baby is lying on their stomach have all been associated with SIDS, but not cats. The warm, cozy, and elevated cribs are perfect for catnaps.
4/27
Dogs can smell hypoglycemia.
This sounds like an episode of Lassie, but this is not a fictional story. The dogs can detect a drop in blood sugar and warn the owner to take action. They may paw, lick, whine, or bark. Some dogs are trained to be diabetic service animals. According to their trainers, 90% of the time, they are correct in detecting hypoglycemia.
5/27
Fact: Dogs have a look of love
If your Dog looks at you with love and not just as a way to beg, then it could actually be an expression of affection. This atypical behavior can be seen in dogs with their closest human companions, but between dogs or strangers, the stare could be interpreted as a threat. Fido may not be showing you affection every time he looks at you. He could want to eat. If their ears are flattened, and they have a tense body, this could be a warning to you.
6/27
Fact: Cats May Love Too Much
Experts in behavior confirm that cats can experience separation anxiety if they are separated from their favorite person. This is why a cute kitty might pee on you while you are working. Other signs include the cat pacing, vocalizing, or blocking the owner’s way to the door. If left alone, the cat may vomit and be too anxious to eat. Behavior therapy and anti-anxiety medication can be helpful for cats that love too much.
7/27
Fact: Dogs Can Learn 250 Words
According to Stanley Coren, Ph…, the smartest and best-trained dogs are similar to 2-year-old children in their ability to understand human speech. These dogs can understand 250 words, while the average Dog is only able to understand 150.
Top Dog: border collies, poodles, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinchers.
Beauty Before Brains: Borzoi, chow-chow, basenji, Afghan hound.
8/27
Fact: White cats are often deaf
Cats with white coats are more likely to be deaf, particularly those with blue-eyed cats. If only one eye has blue pigment, then the cat will be deaf only on that side. Deaf cats often are not bright, but many owners say that they are. It is not clear whether the deafness of their cat or their lower intelligence is responsible.
9/27
Myth: Cats will land on their feet
The flexible backbone of cats makes them masters at landing on their feet over short distances. They do occasionally land on their head. Beyond one or two floors, their feet are unable to “break” a fall. They suffer severe injuries when their bodies and heads collide with the floor. High-rise syndrome occurs when cats with an elevated window focus on the bird so intensely that they lose balance and fall.
10/27
Fact: Dogs Can Dance
Canine freestyle is a competition created by dog lovers that promotes the bond between man and animal. The choreographed dance is performed to music, and sometimes in matching costumes, by a dog and its handler.
11/27
Fact: Cats can smell with their mouths
Vomeronasal Organ is the name of a small gland located on the roof of the mouth. To get a good smell of urine or the private parts of another cat, cats will open their mouths to attract the scent to this Organ. The Flehmen response is a fierce, aggressive behavior that’s seen when males are checking out female cats in heat.
12/27
Myth: Tail Wagging, Happy Dog
Only one Dog wags its tail when it is happy. If the bottom is unusually stiff and high, it means that the Dog is agitated. The Dog that holds its seat low and waves it very quickly is submissive and scared. Happy dogs will wag their tails in a natural position at mid-level. Their ears, mouth, and body will also look relaxed.
13/27
Newborn puppies do not wag
Some puppies do not begin to wag their tails until they are seven weeks old. Vets say that tiny puppies can wag their seats but are too busy eating and sleeping to do so. Tail wagging becomes a sign language as they grow more alert. It is a way to communicate with rambunctious siblings or ask for food. When alone, dogs almost never wag their tails.
14/27
Early bonding is key for Kitty.
Likely, some cats who are aloof and bite at the hand they feed from have not been exposed to humans in their early years. Experts in feline behavior say that a kitten must have regular contact with humans during the first seven-week period. Otherwise, it will never form a bond with them. Five minutes per day, in the first few weeks, will help a kitten learn not to bite a human who lifts its hand off the floor.
15/27
Myth: Dogs can see in black and white
Researchers on dogs say that this is not true. Dogs have the same color blindness as humans, who are red-green. Dogs can see light gray, dark gray, dark gray, dark gray, and pale yellow. They can also detect the slightest movements and see well in low-light conditions. This makes them excellent hunters. Based on the color-sensitive con cells in their retinas, they do not see red, green, or orange.
16/27
Myth: Warm Nose and Sick Dog
It is not good to see a dog’s temperature change quickly. This could be a sign of an illness. The nose can become hot and dry from lying in the sunlight or cool and moist after dipping it into the water dish. Lethargy is a better sign of illness than vomiting, nausea, coughing, or a temperature over 102.5@F. What is the wet snout? The damp bill is caused by ducts that transport tears to the nose.
17/27
Fact: A Limp Can Mean Lung Trouble
Sometimes, dogs and cats go to the vet with a limp, only to be diagnosed with lung cancer or another pulmonary problem. The tumor in the chest may cause the leg bones to grow new tissue, resulting in swelling and pain. Coughing is the most common symptom, but about 25% of dogs do not show any signs before a chest X-ray detects cancer. If the tumor can be treated, then these leg changes (called hypertrophic osteopathy) may disappear.
18/27
Myth: Cats Need Milk
It is a myth that cats require milk. Giving your cat a cup of cow’s dairy could cause it to have diarrhea. Kittens will drink their mothers’ milk until weaning, and older cats might like the taste. Adult cats do not have enough lactase to digest the lactose in milk. It is often unpleasant and messy.
19/27
Myth: Dogs Need Bones
This practice is based on the belief that ancient wolves (dogs) ate many bones. Pet dogs can now get all of the calcium and nutrients that they require from dry kibble. Even though bones satisfy a canine’s intense chewing instincts, they can splinter and splinter, even after cooking. Store-bought rubber chew toys or edible chewies are safer options.
20/27
Myth: Licking Heals Dogs’ Wounds
Contrary to popular belief, dog saliva does not have a magical healing power. The opposite is true: Mouth bacteria can cause an infection which delays healing. Compulsive licking in dogs can also lead to persistent sores called acral-lick dermatitis. An Elizabethan collar is often used to heal the sores. It prevents their tongue from getting near them until they are completely healed.
21/27
Cats kiss with their eyes.
According to feline specialists, cats communicate by blinking slowly. It is a sign of peace, intended to calm down other cats. This seductive blink is aimed at a person and shows love, affection, or even affection. The cat’s body language is a slow blink and a long stare. People can “blow a kitty kiss” in return. Roger Tabor, a behaviorist, says that the calming blink is effective on cats in general, including house cats and feral cats. It also works with tigers.
22/27
FACT: Dogs fall in love
Can two dogs develop a loving relationship? Or do they meet anyone at the park? In her book “The Social Lives of Dogs,” anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas claims that dogs can love. She documents the remarkable love story of “Sundog and Bean.” Thomas says that few dogs form relationships because they are kept in captivity as pets and “born to do whatever we want, rather than what they want.”
23/27
Smoking kills cats and dogs.
Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of two deadly cancers for cats: oral carcinoma and lymphoma. Housecats inhale smoke from cigarettes, and the residue left on their fur after grooming can be toxic. Smokers can cause cancerous tumors on the noses of dogs with long noses. Short-nosed dogs are more susceptible to lung cancer.
24/27
Purring through Pain: Cat Language
It is still not well understood what a purring, quiet sound sounds like. Cat lovers have seen their cats purring with happiness, but they also purr in pain or when near death. This may be a way to soothe yourself. Purring is a behavior that kittens start within hours after birth. The mother cat also purrs when she feeds her kittens.
25/27
Chirping is the Cat’s Language
When cats are highly aroused, they make a sharp, high-pitched noise. This is the sound that birds commonly make when they are excited. Chattering is a vocalization that accompanies rapid movements of the lower teeth when a cat cannot reach its prey.
Dog Language: Bear it and Grin
The canine smile can be a sign of happiness for owners who insist that their dogs are able to show emotion. It can be a sign that a dog is happy if it is relaxed and has its mouth open. The canine equivalent of a nervous smile is the submissive Grin. They may also crouch, pull their lips upwards, or show their teeth. This innocent, shy “grin” is easily mistaken for an aggressive snarl. If in doubt, never mess with a dog.
Dog Language: Whale Eye
Dogs who turn their heads away but keep their eyes open to see you are showing “whale-eye,” which is usually an indication that they are scared or protecting something. They will have whites that appear in a crescent-shaped pattern. Disturbing them may cause growling or snapping. A stiff body heightens the tension. For more relaxed moments, dogs also have a sideways look: their body looks at ease, and not much white is visible.
Lindsey Ganzer, DVM, a Colorado veterinarian, told The Times that of 35 dogs she treated for the disease since October, four died. Ganzer stated that all the dogs treated her spent time at places where there were many dogs, such as dog parks and dog daycares.
Owners should also be cautious before allowing their dogs to join large gatherings of dogs. According to a press release by Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, owners should also think twice before entering large dog gatherings.
Ganzer stated that they hoped that spreading the word would make people less likely to commit such crimes. The veterinary community is scared.
What causes the mysterious respiratory illness is not known.
In a CSU statement, Michael Lappin, DVM, Ph.D., professor of internal medicine and veterinarian, said that contagious respiratory diseases in dogs are common. There are many viral and bacterial reasons for this. In recent months, however, more cases have been diagnosed, and the disease’s course has changed, which surprised both pet owners and veterinary healthcare providers. It is not known whether a bacteria, virus, or both caused these unusual cases.
I was saddened by the fact that so many patients with long-standing COVID-19 symptoms had never been tested. Galiatsatos said that he could no longer push the antibodies of patients because they may have antibodies from an old infection or vaccine. It is difficult to get insurance companies to pay for COVID-19 long tests if the COVID test was negative to begin with.