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Canine influenza
By Dalane Epp
Amidst the hubbub lately about H1N1 influenza (also known as swine flu), you may have heard of canine influenza as well. Different from H1N1 in that it does not infect humans, canine influenza is an emerging disease among canines. First diagnosed in 2004 in the state of Florida, canine influenza has now been diagnosed in 30 states including Iowa, Colorado and Kansas according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). As of yet, it has not been diagnosed in Nebraska but it is likely to spread to all states eventually. The first cases of canine influenza were diagnosed in racing greyhounds. Most other infections have been seen in dogs kept in shelters and other kennel situations.
Canine influenza (CI) is a mutated form of the equine influenza H3N8 virus. However, it does not spread from horses to dogs or vice versa but is now a canine specific virus. Due to its relatively new emergence, dogs do not have immunity and nearly all, if not all, dogs that come into contact will become infected with the virus. The virus is spread directly from dog to dog via respiratory secretions. Dogs can also become infected from contact with contaminated food bowls or other similar objects and people can harbor the virus on their hands or clothing. Of those dogs that become infected, 75-80 percent will show clinical signs of the disease while all dogs that become infected can shed the virus.
Most of these dogs will contract the mild form of canine influenza which presents as a moist or dry cough and low-grade fever. Signs typically last 1 1/2 to three weeks. Because CI is a virus, treatment is supportive in nature and can consist of cough suppressants and/or antibiotics. While antibiotics do not treat CI directly, they do guard against secondary infections. Secondary bacterial infections can cause a nasal discharge or become a complicating factor in the severe form of CI. The severe form of CI can be fatal and causes pneumonia type symptoms of very high fevers and difficulty breathing. CI has been fatal in about 5 percent of dogs that have contracted the disease.
A vaccine has been developed for canine influenza and has just recently been released. Veterinarians are typically giving the vaccine case by case on the basis of risk factors. As the virus has not to this point been diagnosed in Nebraska, we at Gloystein Veterinary Clinic are not yet recommending vaccination for dogs in this area. If and when the virus is seen here in Nebraska, risk factors will include; dogs which are boarded, groomed and/or commonly come into contact with other dogs. If you have more questions about canine influenza or want to know if your dog is at risk, contact your veterinarian or check out one of the following Web sites which have good and accurate information about the disease: http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/canine_bgnd.asp, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/.
May you and your dog stay healthy and free of any and all influenza viruses this winter.
Canine influenza (CI) is a mutated form of the equine influenza H3N8 virus. However, it does not spread from horses to dogs or vice versa but is now a canine specific virus. Due to its relatively new emergence, dogs do not have immunity and nearly all, if not all, dogs that come into contact will become infected with the virus. The virus is spread directly from dog to dog via respiratory secretions. Dogs can also become infected from contact with contaminated food bowls or other similar objects and people can harbor the virus on their hands or clothing. Of those dogs that become infected, 75-80 percent will show clinical signs of the disease while all dogs that become infected can shed the virus.
Most of these dogs will contract the mild form of canine influenza which presents as a moist or dry cough and low-grade fever. Signs typically last 1 1/2 to three weeks. Because CI is a virus, treatment is supportive in nature and can consist of cough suppressants and/or antibiotics. While antibiotics do not treat CI directly, they do guard against secondary infections. Secondary bacterial infections can cause a nasal discharge or become a complicating factor in the severe form of CI. The severe form of CI can be fatal and causes pneumonia type symptoms of very high fevers and difficulty breathing. CI has been fatal in about 5 percent of dogs that have contracted the disease.
A vaccine has been developed for canine influenza and has just recently been released. Veterinarians are typically giving the vaccine case by case on the basis of risk factors. As the virus has not to this point been diagnosed in Nebraska, we at Gloystein Veterinary Clinic are not yet recommending vaccination for dogs in this area. If and when the virus is seen here in Nebraska, risk factors will include; dogs which are boarded, groomed and/or commonly come into contact with other dogs. If you have more questions about canine influenza or want to know if your dog is at risk, contact your veterinarian or check out one of the following Web sites which have good and accurate information about the disease: http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/canine_bgnd.asp, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/.
May you and your dog stay healthy and free of any and all influenza viruses this winter.
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