All Davenport Dog Parks Closed To Prevent Dog Disease

A virus has been affecting dogs in many states including Illinois, but not Iowa. To help prevent the spread of the virus, many cities in Iowa are closing dog parks to keep pets safe.

After the officials from the City of Bettendorf announced one of their dog parks would be closed until further notice, the City of Davenport followed suit and closed all dog parks.

Dog Parks Closed In The Quad Cities

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, 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 recommends that dogs avoid contact with other dogs or animals from outside their household until the illness is contained.

Just a few hours later, Bettendorf's neighboring city, Davenport, decided to do the same thing. The Davenport Parks and Recreation Department said that both Davenport area dog parks will be closed as of November 29 in response to the respiratory dog virus that has been reported in Illinois and other states.

Those two dog parks include:

• Centennial Park (315 South Marquette Street)
• North Marquette Dog Park (4411 North Marquette Street)

A reopening date has not yet been determined. Updates will be shared here, on the Park & Recreation homepage, and via Facebook.

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.