Animal health experts in Michigan, United States, are trying to identify a disease that has killed dozens of dogs in the last month in the north and center of the state.
This still-unidentified virus has killed 20 dogs in Otsego County, while another 30 have died in County Clare, the city’s director of animal control reported last week.
Symptoms exhibited by infected dogs include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite, explained the county animal shelter in Gaylord, 60 miles northeast of Traverse City.
While symptoms may be similar to canine parvovirus, known as “parvo,” a highly contagious virus that most often infects unvaccinated dogs and puppies under 4 months of age, in some cases, affected dogs have tested negative for parvo during the initial evaluation by veterinarians.
In any case, it is important to mention that the first samples sent to the veterinary diagnostic laboratory at Michigan State University tested positive for parvovirus.
Through a statement, Dr. Nora Wineland, from the State Veterinary Agriculture Department, said that there are still more results pending and others to study in depth to give a verdict on the subject.
For its part, the agriculture department called it a “canine parvovirus-like illness” and said the MSU diagnostic lab is helping to investigate the cases.
In a publication from the Otsego shelter, it was clarified that the affected dogs have generally been under 2 years of age or elderly, emphasizing that none of them have been fully vaccinated.