LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A mystery illness infecting thousands of dogs across the U.S. is now here in Florida.

“There have been reported cases in the area. It’s a hard thing to know because we don’t exactly know what it is, but we have seen more coughing dogs recently,” said Dr. Celia Fisher, a veterinarian at Cape Coral Vet.

Experts say the illness starts just like an upper respiratory infection. However, antibodies do not seem to fight it off, and it can lead to pneumonia, which can be deadly. If your dog is experiencing a runny nose, sneezing, gummy eyes, coughing, or wheezing, get them to the vet right away.

“if for some reason you can’t get in with your normal vet, go to the Emergency. Don’t mess around with this,” said Liz McCauley, the Executive Director of Cape Coral Animal Shelter.

Experts also recommend you avoid public places like the dog park right now. Shelters, groomers, and kennels should have protocols in place when illnesses like this go around.

“We have had exposure to all sorts of things– parvo, upper respiratory, kennel cough– and we have to always be on the lookout for that, so we are very diligent here,” said McCauley.

Workers are constantly cleaning kennels, washing their hands, and putting pets in quarantine when needed. The same goes for the Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers.

“That is probably, at any shelter, the most important tool against spreading infections is cleanliness,” said Gulf Coast Communications Director Brian Wierima.

ABC7 called more than a dozen boarding and grooming places in Southwest Florida. All of them declined to do an interview. Wierima suggests you do your research before boarding your pet this holiday season.

“Go there and check it out for yourself. Just make sure that you’re comfortable leaving a family member– you’re furry friend there,” said Wierima.