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Reports of a respiratory illness afflicting dogs have put many dog owners on edge in recent weeks. Some canines have even died as a result but this thing seems to be a bit overblown so we wanted to do some research on our own. 
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A variety of dog breeds have been affected by the illness, which has symptoms are similar to Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, or kennel cough. That's a highly contagious respiratory disease, which affects the dog’s breathing passages and the lungs.
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While the illness mimics kennel cough, its symptoms do not diminish with kennel cough treatments. Humans and other pets are not believed to be at risk from the illness.
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What’s causing the illness – which doesn’t yet have a name – is unknown. However, researchers in New Hampshire say they have identified a pathogen, an organism that causes disease in a host, that may be causing the illness.
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“At this point in time, I don’t think there is reason for extreme alarm,” said Dr. Deborah Silverstein, a professor of small animal emergency and critical care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Ryan Veterinary Hospital. “I do think it’s a time to be cautious and to stay informed.”
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Here are the symptoms of the 2023 mystery dog illness…
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Hundreds of dogs in as many as 16 states have contracted a mysterious respiratory illness that has spread across the U.S. since August.
Dog sickness map: Which states have reported dog respiratory sickness?
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