If you’re a pooch parent, you probably know of the rabies risk to dogs from raccoon encounters. But there’s another, more unusual danger.

A rare syndrome called coonhound paralysis can strike dogs within two weeks after being scratched or bitten by a raccoon. And while nobody knows the exact cause, the affected dog’s immune system begins attacking its own nerves. The result is progressive weakness and paralysis, with some dogs requiring attachment to a ventilator in order to breathe.

The name notwithstanding, any canine breed can be affected by coonhound paralysis. And while some dogs contract the disease even without a raccoon encounter, such meet-ups increase the risk. That’s why it pays to monitor your pooch outdoors, especially in wooded areas favored by the masked marauders in question.