This article was written in 2005 before there was a canine flu vaccine. Although today there is a vaccine, the same group of dogs that they say need the vaccine today were the dogs that caught the flu back then. It has, however, spread to most parts of the country. The links at the end of the article were updated January 2012.
Canine Influenza, or canine flu, first came to public attention in early 2004. Since then, news broadcasts in different parts of the country have periodically sounded the alarm that this is a deadly threat to pet dogs. What are the facts behind these news stories?
What is canine flu? Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs that is caused by a virus that is closely related to the virus that causes equine influenza. This canine virus was first identified in Florida among racing greyhounds in January 2004. From June to August of 2004, outbreaks of canine respiratory disease were reported at 14 racing tracks in six states. Over the next year, outbreaks occurred at 20 tracks in 11 states. Infection has also been confirmed in pet dogs in 16 states from California to Massachusetts and from Oregon to Florida.. Cases of canine flu have occurred in animal shelters, pet stores, boarding kennels, and veterinary clinics.
How are dogs with canine flu treated? Veterinarians use supportive animal care and nutritional practices that assist the dogs in mounting an effective immune response. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a broad-spectrum bactericidal antimicrobial may be used.
Do I need to be concerned about where I take my dog and what activities we participate in? Dog owners need to be aware that any situation that brings dogs together do increase the risk of spreading communicable infections in general. Canine influenza is easily killed by disinfectants commonly used by vet clinics, boarding facilities, and animal shelters, so as long as good infection control practices are used, owners involved in shows, sports, other dog activities, and owners using boarding and grooming facilities or dog parks and dog care services should not be overly concerned.
What should I do if my dog has a cough or a nasal discharge?
(1) Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam and evaluation and to recommend an appropriate course of treatment.
(2) Do not allow a dog with symptoms such as coughing or other signs of respiratory disease to participate in activities with other dogs. Canine flu, like kennel cough, is highly contagious, and there is no vaccine available yet against canine flu. [Note 2012: there now is a vaccine available against canine flu].
What are the symptoms of canine flu? There are two forms of the disease: a mild form and a more severe form that is accompanied by pneumonia.
(1) Dogs suffering from the mild form of canine influenza develop a soft, moist cough that persists for 10 to 30 days. Sometimes they have a dry cough that mimics kennel cough. These dogs may also have a thick nasal discharge caused by a secondary bacterial infection.
(2) Dogs that contract the severe form of the disease develop high fevers (104 degreees to 106 degrees) and have clinical symptoms of pneumonia, such as increased respiratory rates. Pneumonia may be due to a secondary bacterial infection
How contagious is canine influenza? Because this is a newly emerging disease and there is no vaccine as yet, almost all dogs, regardless of breed or age, have no immunity and are susceptible to infection. Almost all dogs exposed to canine influenza develop the disease, nearly 80 percent show clinical signs of disease, most affected dogs have the mild form, and the fatality rate is much lower than the news indicates.
Is canine flu fatal? There have been a lot of news reports indicating that canine influenza is a fatal disease, and there was a high fatality incidence in the first major outbreak of the disease in January 2004. However, Dr. Cynda Crawford, a veterinary immunologist at the University of Florida, and experts at the Centers for Disease Control, report that this disease “is not as deadly as people want to make it.” The fatality rate is between one and five percent of serious cases.
Where can I get more information and updates on canine flu (updated January 2012)?
- CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/
- AVMA: http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/canine_bgnd.asp
- VETMED: Canine Influenza Fact Sheet for Veterinarians, 2010, http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts_waddl/dx/K9Influenza.aspx
- American Veterinary Medical Association: (http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/default.asp)
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