Virus is killing dogs, but what's causing it?

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Dogs in Ohio are dying from a virus, and the state does not know what's causing it.

Four dogs in Canal Fulton became sick from something called acute necrotizing vasculitis.

It's a severe illness causing vomiting and leaking blood cells and other fluids out of different organs.

Doctor Melanie Butera at the Elm Ridge Animal Hospital treated all four cases, one of which died.

She said it's a rarity something like this would happen.

"It doesn't seem like it is an epidemic," she said. "(But) we are seeing sporadic cases across the state."

The symptoms can be associated with a new virus not seen before called circovirus -- it's believed circovirus may have killed three dogs in Cincinnati.

Erring on the side of caution, the city of Canal Fulton has closed down its dog park and will not reopen it until it knows what's making the dogs sick.