Unfortunately, this sweet pup passed away yesterday from what is believed to be a parasitic infection known as coccidiosis. Most, if not all, of her litter have also passed. The breeder had no knowledge of this, I am sure. There is also the possibility that a new strain of parvo is responsible for a similar outbreak in parts of Michigan.
Read this is today's news:
An unidentified illness has killed dozens of dogs in Michigan
(CNN)Officials in Michigan are trying to identify an illness that has killed dozens of dogs in the last month in the northern and central parts of the state's Lower Peninsula.
The illness has killed more than 20 dogs in Otsego County alone, usually within days of them presenting symptoms of vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite, the county animal shelter in Gaylord, a 60-mile drive northeast of Traverse City, said Friday on Facebook.
More than 30 dogs died of similar symptoms this month in Michigan's Clare County, three counties to the south, that county's animal control director told county officials last week, according to the Clare County Cleaver. Similar reports have been made around northern and central Michigan.
Those are symptoms that can be caused by canine parvovirus, known as "parvo," a highly contagious virus that most often infects unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than 4 months, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Details about whether parvo is involved in the Michigan cases conflict. Affected dogs tested negative for parvo during initial screening by veterinarians, the Otsego County shelter and the Clare County animal control director have said.
But some of the first samples submitted to Michigan State University's veterinary diagnostic laboratory were positive for parvovirus, the lab and the state agriculture department said Monday.
