We are aware of reports of dogs in our area becoming ill with signs including diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, severe lethargy and vasculitis. While there are many conditions which may present with these symptoms, there has been recent interest in a circovirus being responsible for deaths in Ohio and Michigan.
Unfortunately, dog circovirus has only recently been isolated and there is no confirmation that it is the actual cause of the illnesses. There is also no confirmation that this disease is transmitted to or from humans. At this time we can only wait as research continues.
If your dog exhibits signs of gastrointestinal upset, or other troubling symptoms, please pursue medical support. You can reach the Ann Arbor Animal Hospital 24 hours a day at 734-662-4474. If your dog is currently healthy, no specific actions are needed at this time. More information can be found at the AVMA website.
We will continue to follow this news item and update our media sites as more specific information becomes available.
Update 10-11-13: Circovirus has been confirmed by the MSU Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in two dogs in Michigan. According to the report however, “both animals also had simultaneous infections with other organisms; therefore identification of the circovirus was not necessarily linked to the cause of the disease shown by the animals.” We are continuing to monitor this situation closely and reiterate that you can reach us at 734-662-4474 if you have concerns about your dog’s health.
Update 10-21-13: We still have not had any patients die from similar symptoms nor have we seen any signs of transfer of disease to or from humans.
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Ann Arbor Animal Hospital is a locally-owned animal hospital operating for over 90 years in Ann Arbor, MI.