The unknown disease, which causes acute gastrointestinal problems, had killed at least 30 dogs in the northern part of the state, animal control officials told USA Today. The virus is believed to have originated in Louisiana and generally kills young dogs within 3 to 5 days, officials said. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy. “The state is in a panic right now,” Clare County Animal Control Director Rudi Hicks told the Clare County Cleaver. “There is no treatment. There is no vaccine because they haven’t recognized it yet.” Hicks said the disease is similar to Parvo — which causes similar symptoms and is spread through dog-to-dog contact. The dogs that were killed tested negative for Parvo. The animal control director urged dog owners in the area to keep their pets at home and away from other puppies until more information is available. Puppies and older dogs are more vulnerable to the virus, and most of those killed were under the age of 2, the Otsego County Animal Shelter said on Facebook. “It’s a virus that’s very similar to parvo, probably a different strain,” said Melissa FitzGerald, director of the Otsego County Animal Shelter in Gaylord, Michigan. Vaccinating dogs for Parvo can prevent pets from getting sick, he added. “The state veterinary office is hoping to learn more and defend as we get more samples,” he said.
