Dog Flu

Dog Flu, also called Canine Influenza, is a new dog disease. It is similar to Canine Cough. Only a small percent of Canine Influenza cases cause death. The disease has adapted in the dog from a common infection in horses. It is a highly contagious and sometimes deadly canine flu that is spreading in kennels and at dog tracks around the country.

Currently there seems to be much misinformation about this emerging infection in dogs.

There are no reported cases in Canada, and the U.S. infections seem to be confined to Boarding Kennels and Greyhound Race Tracks.

There are a multitude of disorders and diseases that will cause a dog to cough and gag and hack.

Individual assessment for your dog is imperative to diagnose the true cause of the dog's difficulties.

What is canine influenza?

Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs that is caused by a virus. The canine influenza virus is closely related to the virus that causes equine influenza and it is thought that the equine influenza virus mutated to produce the canine influenza virus.

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Two clinical syndromes have been seen in dogs infected with the canine influenza virus—a mild form of the disease and a more severe form that is accompanied by pneumonia.

Most Dogs suffering with the mild form of canine influenza develop a soft, moist cough that persists for 10 to 30 days. Some dogs have a dry cough similar to the "kennel cough" caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica/parainfluenza virus complex. For this reason, canine influenza virus infections are frequently mistaken for "kennel cough." Dogs with the mild form of influenza may also have a thick nasal discharge, which is usually caused by a secondary bacterial infection.

Dogs with the severe form of canine influenza develop high temperatures (104ºF to 106ºF) and have clinical signs of pneumonia, such as increased respiratory rates and effort. Pneumonia may be due to a secondary bacterial infection.

Because this is a newly emerging disease, almost all dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to infection and have no immunity. Virtually all dogs that are exposed to the virus become infected and nearly 80% show clinical signs of disease. Fortunately, most affected dogs have the mild form.

Do dogs die from canine influenza?

Fatal cases of pneumonia resulting from infection with canine influenza virus have been reported in dogs, but the fatality rate (5% to 8%) has been low so far.

How is a dog with canine influenza treated?

As with any disease caused by a virus, treatment is largely supportive. Good animal care practices and nutrition assist dogs in mounting an effective immune response. In the milder form of the disease, a thick green nasal discharge, which most likely represents a secondary bacterial infection, usually resolves quickly after treatment with a broad-spectrum bactericidal antimicrobial. In the more severe form of the disease, pneumonia is thought to often be caused by bacteria, and responds best to IV Fluids and a antibiotics.

Is canine influenza virus transmissible from dogs to humans?

To date, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza virus from dogs to people.

Do I need to be concerned about putting my dog in day care or boarding it at a kennel?

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Dog owners should be aware that any situation that brings dogs together increases the risk of spread of communicable illnesses. Good infection control practices can reduce that risk, so dog owners involved in shows, sports, or other activities with their dogs or who board their dogs at kennels should ask whether respiratory disease has been a problem there, and whether the facility has a plan for isolating dogs that develop respiratory disease and for notifying owners if their dogs have been exposed to dogs with respiratory disease.

As long as good infection control practices are in place, pet owners should not be overly concerned about putting dogs in training facilities, dog parks, kennels, or other areas frequented by dogs.

My dog has a cough...what should I do?

Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian so that he or she can examine and evaluate your dog and recommend an appropriate course of treatment. If canine influenza is suspected, treatment will usually focus on maximizing the ability of your dog's immune system to combat the virus. A typical approach might include administration of fluids if your dog is becoming dehydrated and prescribing an antimicrobial if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected.

Canine influenza virus can be spread via direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, and by contact with contaminated inanimate objects. Therefore, dog owners whose dogs are coughing or exhibiting other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to them. Clothing, equipment, surfaces, and hands should be cleaned and disinfected after exposure to dogs showing signs of respiratory disease to prevent transmission of infection to susceptible dogs. Clothing can be adequately cleaned by using a detergent at normal laundry temperatures.

What diagnostic tests will tell me whether a dog has canine influenza? What samples do I send? Where do I send the samples? How do I distinguish between canine influenza and kennel cough?

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There is no rapid test for diagnosis of acute canine influenza virus infection. Diagnosis may be confirmed through serologic testing. Antibodies to canine influenza virus may be detected as early as seven days after onset of clinical signs. Convalescent-phase samples should be collected at least two weeks after collection of the acute-phase sample. If an acute-phase sample is not available, testing a convalescent-phase sample can reveal whether a dog has been infected at some point in the past.

Other diagnostic options applicable to dogs that have died from pneumonia are viral culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, using fresh (not formalin-preserved or frozen) lung and tracheal tissues. Virus detection in respiratory secretion specimens from acutely ill animals using these methods is possible but generally unrewarding. The Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center is currently accepting samples for analysis. For detailed information on sample submission, visit Vet Diagnostics

Is canine influenza transmissible to from dogs to horses or other animal species?

At this time, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza from dogs to horses, cats, ferrets, or other animal species. However proper the infection control measures are recommended to prevent spread of the virus.

Can I Prevent My Dog from Getting the FLU?

Ensure that your pet is on a premium quality diet.

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There are some specific supplements that you can add to keep their immune system strong.

FATTY ACIDS ARE ESSENTIAL. Omega 3 fatty acids are great anti-inflammatories and have been shown to boost the immune system. Flax is the best source for dogs.

HERBAL HELP. Herbs can help strengthen the immune system. GREEN TEA (CAMELLIA) stimulates the immune system and inhibits tumor growth: standardized green tree extract is dosed at 50mg per 40 lbs of body weight daily.

TRANSFER FACTOR: Transfer Factor is an immune booster nutritional approach in preventive and natural medicine for people and animals. The key to self-healing is a strong defense system, which protects dogs and cats from everything from the flu germs to cancer cells. More than their mainstream counterparts, holistic veterinarians believe that a weak immune system plays a key role in causing disease. Antibiotics fight infection, but they don't affect whatever weakened the immune system in the first place. This is why holistic veterinarians focus less on things that cause diseases and more on those that affect the body's defenses.

DR. JONES ULTIMATE CANINE HEALTH FORMULA. My dog supplement contains both EFAs and Transfer Factors (Bovine Colostrum) - go here for more information: www.thedogsupplement.com.