Dog owners are calling veterinary offices concerned with the
news of the recent dog flu outbreak in the Midwest. Over 1000 dogs have become
sick with the highly contagious Canine Influenza virus and 6 dogs have died to
date.
Two strains of canine influenza, also known as The Dog Flu,
have now been identified in the U.S. The original influenza virus identified in
2004 in racing greyhounds and was typed as H3N8. Dogs in the current Chicago
outbreak were originally thought to have H3N8, but testing identified a
different subtype H3N2. This strain of canine influenza hasn't yet been seen
in the U.S., but was identified in Asia before.
What are dog flu symptoms?
Both canine influenza strains cause coughing, nasal
discharge, lethargy, loss of appetite and can cause a high fever. About 50-80%
of infected dogs have mild kennel cough symptoms others may develop a severe
illness. Some dogs exposed to the virus never go on to develop any symptoms.
Dogs with a mild form may recover within 10 to 30 days after
typical kennel cough signs. Dogs with the severe form rapidly fall ill within
4- 6 hours and have very high fevers up to 104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
Infected dogs may also develop secondary bacterial pneumonia. The death rate
for severe cases is reported to be 5-8% but is typically <1%.
Can dogs pass the
infection to humans?
No, there isn’t any evidence that canine influenza is
contagious to humans. The H3N2 form could
potentially make cats sick.
How is canine
influenza treated?
Any infected dog should be removed from dog activities and
isolated. Mild cases are treated with cough suppressants, rest and supportive
care. Antibiotics are reserved only for cases in which a secondary bacterial
infection are suspected. Severe cases may require hospitalization, oxygen
support, antibiotics, and IV fluids.
Should we worry in
Las Vegas?
Fortunately Las Vegas
has not yet seen dog flu cases impact our community. But we know that Canine
Influenza has been diagnosed in 40 states so far, so the disease is around.
Too often Las Vegas pet owners have the “it doesn’t happen
here” mentality when it comes to infectious disease. Perhaps we think we live
in a bubble in Las Vegas, far away from high parasite burdened areas or heavy
heartworm endemic areas of the country.
But all it takes is movement of influenza infected dogs from another
state to bring Canine Influenza to an area.
What can dog owners
do to prevent illness?
Vaccination for canine influenza should be considered for at
risk dogs-those living or traveling in an area experiencing an outbreak, or
those that participate in group dog activities, visiting dog shows, grooming salons, boarding
facilities, or doggie day care.
Outbreaks of dog flu take hold when the virus infects naïve
dogs. Naïve dogs are those that haven’t ever been exposed to the virus, or that
haven’t been vaccinated for this virus. By vaccinating more dogs in our area
for canine influenza, we can in essence “protect the herd” better.
Preventative recommendations vary depending upon whether the virus is
actively being diagnosed in your community. Dogs in areas affected by an
outbreak should be kept away from group dog locations like dog parks, day care,
and boarding facilities while infected dogs recover and facilities can
disinfect their premises.
Other common sense tips to prevent your dog from acquiring
dog flu include avoiding contact with unknown dogs, washing your hands after petting
or contacting other dogs, and avoiding shared water bowls or items in public
areas.
But in areas not experiencing an outbreak, there is little
basis for limiting your dog’s activities by keeping Fido in lockdown. While there is always some inherent risk of
infectious disease in any group dog activity, participating in these activities
offers benefits of physical exercise, provides mental stimulation, builds
confidence, and decreases boredom and destructive behaviors.
Until canine influenza is diagnosed in our area, I am
continuing to let Boss run his agility class and Nikki play with her canine
pals at doggie daycare.
Should we vaccinate?
Dog owners with at-risk dogs should consider vaccination. Vaccination
for canine influenza doesn’t prevent dogs from becoming infected, but rather
decreases the severity and duration of illness. The vaccine also causes an
infected dog to shed less virus that could infect other dogs.
The current canine influenza vaccine protects against the
H3N8 strain, and is unknown if this vaccine offers any cross-protection against
the H3N2 form, although research is looking at this now. In any case, it’s
reasonable to expect the H3N8 form will still be out there so vaccination is
reasonable for at risk dogs.
