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When it comes to the dog flu, it’s important to always be prepared. While most cases are not fatal, the canine influenza virus can make your pup uncomfortably sick, causing them — and you — a lot of stress and time spent at the vet’s office. If you are a dog owner, you don’t need to panic about the dog flu. You should, however, familiarize yourself with the symptoms so that you know what to look for in the event of an outbreak in your area.
Dog flu, or canine influenza virus, is an infectious respiratory disease caused by an influenza A virus, similar to the viral strains that cause influenza in people. There are two known strains of dog flu found in the United States:
The H3N8 strain actually originated in horses. The virus jumped from horses to dogs, becoming a canine influenza virus around 2004, when the first outbreaks affected racing Greyhounds at a track in Florida.
H3N2, on the other hand, originated in Asia, where scientists believe it jumped from birds to dogs. H3N2 is the virus responsible for the 2015 and 2016 outbreaks of canine influenza in the Midwest and continues to spread throughout the United States.
Like human forms of influenza, dog flu is airborne. Respiratory secretions escape into the environment in the form of coughing, barking, and sneezing, where they are then inhaled by a new canine host. The dog flu also spreads through contaminated objects and environments, like water bowls, collars, and kennel surfaces, or through contact with people who have had direct contact with an infected dog.
Crowded areas like kennels, grooming parlors, daycare centers, and dog parks are breeding grounds for diseases like canine influenza. The close proximity of the dogs means that a barking, coughing, or sneezing dog can easily infect canines around them. This is made more dangerous by the fact that dogs are most contagious during the incubation period before they start exhibiting symptoms.
The virus need certain enzymes to grow. These enzymes are found in rapid growing cells like the ones lining the intestinal tract. These cells grow quickly enough so that the intestinal lining is renewed every two to three days. If the virus grow inside these cells they break up leaving large areas of damaged lining that lead to severe loss of body fluids. The normal intestinal flora which under ordinary circumstances are pretty harmless, can now invade the body through the damaged areas.
A bitch with good immunity against parvo will transfer these antibodies to her pups in the uterus. They will then be protected to a large degree for a period of six to twelve weeks. Exposure to the virus, whether naturally or through vaccination wil enhance this immunity. Healthy puppies, like the one on the left should thus be vaccinated at six weeks of age, again four weeks later and preferably a third time another four weeks later. It is very unlikely that a pup that has had three properly administered vaccinations will contract the disease. It is however important to stress that puppies must be healthy and free from worms before they can be vaccinated.
At present there are no affordable injectable drugs that kill viruses in the body, thus no specific treatment exists once the virus is inside the body. Treatment is aimed at curbing secondary bacteria, stopping vomiting and replenishing body fluids.
This serious disease is caused by one of the smallest viruses known to man called Canine Parvovirus (CPV).(Parvo is the Latin for small). As many as 300 000 virus particles will fit into a millimeter!
Massive numbers of virus occur in the stool of a sick dog. One gram of faeces may contain enough virus to infect 10 million susceptible dogs!
Other Conditions That Might Look Like Dog Flu
Dog flu symptoms are fairly general in nature and can look like symptoms of other viral infections such as canine distemper, adenovirus type 2, and canine coronavirus. Another common upper respiratory tract infection that can be confused with dog flu is Kennel Cough which is often caused by the highly contagious bacteria bordetella bronchiseptica.
It is always best to take your dog to the vet if you suspect a respiratory infection, as some conditions can be very serious (and possibly fatal).
Canine influenza cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone, since the signs mimic many other conditions. In order to properly diagnose the presence of influenza virus, your vet will need to conduct tests to detect and identify which virus your dog may be infected with.
There are currently no antiviral agents approved to treat canine influenza. Your vet may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help control fever and inflammation in the nasal passages and throat. If your dog develops a secondary bacterial infection, your vet will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.
Some dogs that have not been eating or drinking may need to be hospitalized for nutritional support (such as a feeding tube or intravenous fluids).
In addition to medical treatment, there are some things you can do at home to help treat dog flu.
1. Provide soft, strong-smelling foods Since dog flu can have a negative impact on your dog’s appetite, try to make their food more appealing by providing softer foods. Try warming the food slightly to enhance the scent.
2. Make sure they have plenty of fresh water Hydration is essential to helping your dog recover. Ensure your dog has plenty of water available to drink throughout their recovery.
3. Make sure your dog is comfortable Ensure your dog has a comfortable spot to rest and recover.
4. Keep your dog’s face clean Take a warm washcloth and gently wipe your dog’s face to clear up any discharge from the nose or eyes.
Pet & Animal Care : How to Treat Cat Flu
The answer is yes, but canine influenza is different than human influenza. Although the symptoms can look similar, the influenza viruses that cause the infections are completely different strains.
If you notice your dog has cold or flu-like symptoms, there’s a high chance they may be suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection, possibly caused by dog flu. Upper respiratory infections can quickly become very serious, so it’s important to know what to look for and what to do if your dog develops symptoms.
Dog flu is a common term to describe a contagious upper respiratory infection in dogs caused by the canine influenza virus. Unlike the human influenza, dog flu is not seasonal and can be contracted at any point in the year.1
These viruses are highly contagious and can spread quickly because most dogs have no immunity against them unless they are vaccinated. Dogs can contract canine influenza from being in close contact with other dogs (like in kennels), through shared food bowls and toys, and airborne droplets through sneezing, coughing, and barking.
All breeds and ages of dogs are susceptible to catching the virus, and almost all dogs who are exposed to the virus will catch it.2
Canine influenza virus is not zoonotic, meaning there is no evidence that either strain can be passed to humans.3 Although humans cannot become infected, they can still transfer the virus on their hands when touching infected animals.
How can you tell if your dog is suffering from the flu? There are a few key signs and symptoms to watch for:
One of the most common signs of canine influenza is a wet (productive) cough that persists for at least one week.5