Eastern Iowa Town Closes Park To Stop The Spread Of Dog Disease

There has been a mysterious disease harming and killing dogs throughout Iowa and the U.S. The disease is spreading like wildfire and just like at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, city officials are closing things down to dogs.

Bettendorf city officials just announced that a popular dog park in the city will be closed until further notice. This actually comes at a good time since the weather isn't friendly to humans or dogs.

Get our free mobile app

Bettendorf, Iowa Closes Popular Dog Park

On Tuesday, officials from the City of Bettendorf announced that as of November 28, 2023, Crow Creek Dog Park is closing until further notice due to increasing health concerns surrounding the spread of an infectious respiratory disease in dogs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association is recommending that dogs avoid contact with other dogs or animals from outside their household until the illness is contained.

The Crow Creek Dog Park is located on the north side of Crow Creek Park (4701 Devils Glen Road). With almost 7 acres of fenced-in space, this is a safe and fun place for dogs to run and play off-leash.

The park also offers a special area called The SPOTT for dogs that are old, timid, or tiny and need a more calm space to play.

What We Do Know About The Dog Disease

A report obtained by NBC Chicago says that the sickness is respiratory and can be fatal to pups.

It's resistant to antibiotics and is like pneumonia, according to officials.

It's thought to be contagious. Dogs are most likely to contract it by coming into contact with other dogs, whether that be at a dog park, the groomer, or at a kennel. As the sickness spreads, vets are encouraging dog owners to not take their pups around other dogs.

Another state the sickness was reported in, Oregon, found that one category of the sickness resulted in "acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24-36 hours".

What To Watch For In Your Pup

The sickness starts as a cough and gets worse. So you're advised to watch out for these symptoms:

• coughing
• sneezing
• discharge from the eyes or nose
• trouble breathing
• fatigue

Experts stress that you need to take your dog to a vet as soon as you see symptoms and make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccinations. The Des Moines Register has tips to help keep your pumps safe.

Besides Oregon and Illinois, the other states impacted include Colorado, New Hampshire, California, Indiana, Washington, Idaho, Florida, and Georgia.

Iowa and Illinois dog owners are encouraged to talk to their vets before taking your dog to be around other pups.