The Vermilion County Animal Shelter, on Catlin Tilton Road in Danville, has temporarily suspended the intake of dogs while the health of one specific dog is further studied. There has been concern nationwide about a dog illness that may be spreading. Shelter director Kasey Snyder says it is not known yet whether it’s a virus or a bacteria. What is known is that it causes pneumonia-like symptoms, but can also be confused with respiratory problems that dog owners and animal shelters see quite often.
But Snyder says when a University of Illinois veterinarian was at the shelter earlier this week, further listening to the lungs of a dog not doing well caused concern.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: And listening to the lungs, it’s a little more wet sounding than it should be; if it was just a normal upper respiratory infection. The problem with whatever is going on across the country is that the symptoms are similar to upper respiratory, which in the shelter we deal with all the time.
The shelter hopes to know more by during the day on Thursday (November 30th), as to whether the dog is responding to antibiotics; or if more serious treatment is needed, which would probably mean that the U of I office takes over treatment. .
Snyder says that for now dog owners should be advised to avoid dog parks, avoid boarding facilities, and also avoid group gatherings of dogs; if possible.
