Mystery Illness Killing Dogs in Ohio

by
posted on September 26, 2013
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (32)

Four dogs died last month and others have fallen ill after the emergence of a mystery virus in Ohio. Of the four that perished, three were staying at the same kennel in Cincinnati, while a fourth was in the Akron-Canton area.

The disease is likely canine circovirus, a recently isolated virus identified by the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital when sick dogs showed up there last year. The virus is common in birds, but the only mammals known to transmit it—until now—were pigs.

Samples from the Ohio dogs have been sent to UC-Davis to confirm the presence of circovirus. However, even if that proves the case, an element of the unknown remains. Namely we don't know where circovirus comes from or even how it's spread.

And that's what has dog owners concerned. I've seen plenty of rumblings on social media and directly from friends regarding the Ohio dog deaths. Most ask a similar question: With autumn upon us, is it safe to hunt, compete in sporting dog events or even travel through the state of Ohio right now?

Given our love for and investment in our dogs, the sentiment is understandable. But let's keep the events in Ohio in perspective.

"We’re not in a place where we need to panic right now," Dr. Laurie Millward, chief veterinarian for the Capital Area Humane Society, told the Columbus Dispatch. "I think it’s way too early to be changing our habits."

Indeed, the affected dogs represent but a fraction of those in Ohio. And, according to Ohio's Department of Agriculture, the prognosis for dogs whose symptoms are caught early enough appears to be pretty good.

Key symptoms to watch for include excessive vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weight loss and lethargy. Even if you don't suspect circovirus, a dog exhibiting any of these ailments should always visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Latest

Plated Venuison Shank With Ingredients
Plated Venuison Shank With Ingredients

Recipe: Taiwanese Braised Venison Shank

The shanks off any animal are often undervalued and, in some cases, discarded. However, once you embrace a shank for what it can produce, it can become a special meal worth planning to enjoy.

First Look: CCI Uppercut .22 WMR

The new Uppercut .22 WMR from CCI Ammunition offers rimfire hunters a whole new option for their handguns.

Field Tested: Leupold BX-4 Range HD Gen 2

Philip Massaro tries out Leupold's brand-new rangefinding binocular on a West Texas aoudad hunt. Read on to find out how it performs.

New for 2025: Outdoor Edge Vantex Hunting Knives

The new Outdoor Edge Vantex line of hunting knives has been designed for serious hunters who require serious knives and prefer a traditional fixed-blade design that will last a lifetime.

#SundayGunday: Federal 7mm Backcountry

Today on #SundayGunday, we fire the 7mm Backcountry, a 21st-century centerfire cartridge designed by Federal Ammunition for big-game hunting that delivers the news from a 20-inch barrel.

First Look: Smith & Wesson M&P FPC in 10mm Auto

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. has released its M&P FPC chambered in 10mm Auto. This long-anticipated and even longer-requested, optics-ready 10mm FPC (Folding Pistol Carbine) utilizes a blowback design and is equipped with three, 15-round double-stack M&P M2.0 pistol magazines.



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.