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MILWAUKEE — Mr. Kelly is a social butterfly. The doodle mix keeps his owner Peg Cotter busy.
“He goes on errands with me every day,” said Cotter. “We go to the dog park every day.”
She said her 3-year-old pup is a rescue.
“He was neglected and abused,” said Cotter. “When I got him, he was 58 pounds. He’s 86 pounds now and a happy dog.”
Cotter said Mr. Kelly makes her day a bit brighter. That’s why his health is one of her top priorities.
“You take care of them like you would take care of yourself,” said Cotter. “Some people don’t believe in vaccines, but I do. I was a nurse for many years. I believe in taking care of myself and taking care of my pets. That’s a commitment you make when you own a dog, a cat, a bird or a fish.”
After she heard about a mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs, she said she wants to be extra cautious with Mr. Kelly.
Dr. Keith Poulsen is the director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. He said researchers are unsure what the pathogen is.
“We don’t really know if it’s a virus or bacteria,” said Poulsen. ”Some of our preliminary data out of the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is that they’re finding what they consider a non-culturable bacteria.”
He said the main symptom is a cough.
“Some dogs are just a cough,” said Poulsen. “Some dogs are pneumonia. The consistent thing seems to be high morbidity, yet low mortality.
Poulsen said while Wisconsin hasn’t reported a case of the illness, at least a dozen states have, including Illinois.
He said right now, it’s important for dog owners to be mindful when around other dogs and communicate with their veterinarians.
“To decrease that risk, maybe we go to the day care maybe not at peak times,” said Poulsen. “Maybe we go later or earlier or different times on the weekends. I would think about making sure my dog is vaccinated before going to boarding or day care.”
Cotter said she is keeping that advice in mind.
“Bored dogs dig or bored dogs get into trouble,” said Cotter. “You’ve got to keep them entertained and busy.”
She said if their routine looks different, Mr. Kelly still gets his exercise and socialization to ensure he’s happy and healthy.
Poulsen said the illness has not been reported to spread to humans or other animals such as cats.
