Veterinarians are sounding the alarm as they see a growing number of coughing dogs.
Wendy Brown’s three golden retrievers — Bridge, Dooley and Lulu — are among the dogs who started showing symptoms earlier this November.
“Dooley started doing kind of this huffing and also seemed to feel quite lethargic,” Brown recalled to “Good Morning America.” “Not too long after, Bridge began to exhibit the symptoms. But his were louder, more boisterous. I thought it was his stomach because he made like a retching sound.”
Initially, Brown thought her pets had a typical kennel cough but when their symptoms didn’t subside, she knew it was something more serious.
“The vet started him on a 10-day cycle of doxycycline. Today was day 10 and he is not a lot better,” Brown said.
Brown, an Idaho resident, said she’s still not sure what could have caused her dogs’ illness in the first place.
While research is underway, veterinarians say the mystery illness is highly contagious and can be fatal. Reported symptoms so far have also been typical of a kennel cough and they include coughing, sneezing, nasal and/or eye discharge and lethargy.
“Instead of that dry cough where the dog felt good, it was now this wet cough where the dog felt sick,” Amanda Cavanagh, the section head of the urgent care service at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, told “GMA.”
Experts like Cavanagh said any dogs showing signs of consistent coughing should be brought to a vet to be examined.
“We can ultrasound the lungs to see if there is a problem that is related to pneumonia or the contagious pneumonia that seems to be going around,” Cavanagh said.
Cavanagh also recommends keeping any coughing dogs away from other dogs and for two weeks after the cough goes away.
Unbreakable Bond! Heroic Dog Saves Injured Hiker, Keeping Watch for 13 Hours in Frigid Cold, Against All Odds
“An Incredible Tale of Survival: Man’s Best Friend Comes to the Rescue
In the breathtaking peaks of Croatia’s Velebit mountain range, Grga Brkić faced a life-threatening situation. While hiking on one of the highest peaks, he tragically fell 500 feet, fracturing his leg, rendering him immobile, and staring death in the face.
There’s a profound love that dogs have for us, a love that knows no bounds. One man who experienced this love firsthand is Grga Brkić. As he lay stranded in the freezing cold, with hypothermia creeping in, hope arrived in the form of his loyal companion, North—an eight-month-old Alaskan Malamute.
North, instinctively understanding the dire circumstances, climbed atop his injured owner, providing warmth and comfort until help could reach them. This harrowing incident unfolded approximately 5,800 feet above Croatia’s Adriatic coastline, as reported by PEOPLE.
Brkić’s fall left him with a fractured lower leg and the inability to move. Two fellow hikers discovered him and his faithful dog at the base of the slope, realizing the impossibility of lifting him out on their own. They immediately called for rescuers.
In an incredible display of loyalty, North nestled beside Brkić, sharing his body heat to keep him warm. Alaskan Malamutes are known for their remarkable cold tolerance, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -20°F, thanks to their thick, waterproof double coats designed for the harsh Arctic conditions.
For 13 grueling hours, Brkić clung to hope, knowing that North was his lifeline. Finally, a team of 27 first responders from the Croatian emergency mountaineers, Hrvatska Gorska Služba Spašavanja, arrived on the scene, and their astonishment was palpable. North had steadfastly curled around Brkić, providing vital warmth throughout the ordeal.
The rescue mission faced daunting challenges—snow, ice, and fallen trees—making it one of the most demanding operations ever undertaken by these seasoned professionals. Remarkably, North never left Brkić’s side.
Ultimately, they were airlifted to a nearby hospital, where Brkić underwent a lifesaving emergency operation, making a full recovery. Thankfully, North emerged from the incident unscathed.
Josip Brozičević, the head of the Croatian mountain rescue services, praised North’s heroic actions, stating, “The dog was curled up next to the owner in the pit the entire time; he warmed his owner with his body, thus preventing the mountaineer’s significant hypothermia who suffered a severe fracture of the lower leg and ankle when he fell.”
In a heartfelt interview with Croatian media, Brkić expressed his gratitude, acknowledging that he wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for North. The moments before rescue arrived felt agonizingly slow, but North’s presence was a true miracle.
Following the incident, the Croatian emergency mountaineers posted about the incredible rescue, and Brkić’s family shared an update, confirming that both he and North were doing remarkably well.
This extraordinary tale is a testament to the indomitable spirit of friendship between humans and their loyal canine companions. Share this story to celebrate the extraordinary bond between Grga Brkić and North and to honor the incredible bravery of our furry friends.
In the breathtaking peaks of Croatia’s Velebit mountain range, Grga Brkić faced a life-threatening situation. While hiking on one of the highest peaks, he tragically fell 500 feet, fracturing his leg, rendering him immobile, and staring death in the face.
There’s a profound love that dogs have for us, a love that knows no bounds. One man who experienced this love firsthand is Grga Brkić. As he lay stranded in the freezing cold, with hypothermia creeping in, hope arrived in the form of his loyal companion, North—an eight-month-old Alaskan Malamute.
North, instinctively understanding the dire circumstances, climbed atop his injured owner, providing warmth and comfort until help could reach them. This harrowing incident unfolded approximately 5,800 feet above Croatia’s Adriatic coastline, as reported by PEOPLE.
Brkić’s fall left him with a fractured lower leg and the inability to move. Two fellow hikers discovered him and his faithful dog at the base of the slope, realizing the impossibility of lifting him out on their own. They immediately called for rescuers.
In an incredible display of loyalty, North nestled beside Brkić, sharing his body heat to keep him warm. Alaskan Malamutes are known for their remarkable cold tolerance, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -20°F, thanks to their thick, waterproof double coats designed for the harsh Arctic conditions.
For 13 grueling hours, Brkić clung to hope, knowing that North was his lifeline. Finally, a team of 27 first responders from the Croatian emergency mountaineers, Hrvatska Gorska Služba Spašavanja, arrived on the scene, and their astonishment was palpable. North had steadfastly curled around Brkić, providing vital warmth throughout the ordeal.
The rescue mission faced daunting challenges—snow, ice, and fallen trees—making it one of the most demanding operations ever undertaken by these seasoned professionals. Remarkably, North never left Brkić’s side.
Ultimately, they were airlifted to a nearby hospital, where Brkić underwent a lifesaving emergency operation, making a full recovery. Thankfully, North emerged from the incident unscathed.
Josip Brozičević, the head of the Croatian mountain rescue services, praised North’s heroic actions, stating, “The dog was curled up next to the owner in the pit the entire time; he warmed his owner with his body, thus preventing the mountaineer’s significant hypothermia who suffered a severe fracture of the lower leg and ankle when he fell.”
In a heartfelt interview with Croatian media, Brkić expressed his gratitude, acknowledging that he wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for North. The moments before rescue arrived felt agonizingly slow, but North’s presence was a true miracle.
Following the incident, the Croatian emergency mountaineers posted about the incredible rescue, and Brkić’s family shared an update, confirming that both he and North were doing remarkably well.
This extraordinary tale is a testament to the indomitable spirit of friendship between humans and their loyal canine companions. Share this story to celebrate the extraordinary bond between Grga Brkić and North and to honor the incredible bravery of our furry friends.
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