Officials are working to identify a mystery parvovirus-like illness spreading across Michigan that has already killed dozens of dogs in the state.
Per CNN, Otsego County alone has already reported more than 20 dog deaths from the illness, which resembles the highly infectious canine parvovirus. The dogs that have died from the illness typically passed away within days of presenting symptoms, which include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Over 30 dogs have died after showing similar symptoms in Clare County this month, according to Clare County Animal Control Director Rudi Hicks, per the Clare County Cleaver.
“It mimics Parvo, but they are all testing negative,” Hicks said. “All of the dogs have died, vaccinated and unvaccinated. We just had eight dogs in our county, that we know of. We took a dog down yesterday for necropsy that just died of it, but don’t have the results back.”
The illness has yet to be identified, and as such, there’s no cure or vaccine to help dogs who have been infected.
“We are still in the early stages of this investigation, but some of the first samples submitted to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory were positive for canine parvovirus. However, there are more results pending and more to be learned,” said Michigan State veterinarian Nora Wineland in a statement. "Dog owners need to ensure their pet is up to date on routine vaccinations as it’s the first step in keeping your pet healthy.”
Parvovirus is typically spread through dog-to-dog contact, or from contact with contaminated feces. It is not contagious to humans, or other types of animals. With adequate treatment, survival rates for parvovirus “approach 90 percent,” according to Michigan’s state agriculture department.
