Published: September 04, 2009 07:24 am      

Precaution key to fighting canine flu

Did you know that Fido can get the flu too?

In fact, according to a variety of recent reports canine influenza, or dog flu, is spreading in the United States.

Dr. Sanjay Kapil, a professor of clinical virology at Oklahoma State University, said recent testing has confirmed that the virus is spreading. Kapil ought to know as he is also the section head of virology and serology at OSU’s Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL).

The diagnostic laboratory has recently tested approximately 120 nasal swabs taken from dogs throughout the United States and “found 12 that were positive,” Kapil said.

“None of those were from Oklahoma,” he said, adding that to his knowledge there haven’t been any confirmed cases in the state.

“The positive cases have been detected in only a few states,” Kapil said. These states include California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming, he said.

“We know the Virginia and DC area has also been affected recently,” he said.

In fact, according to a report on the Discovery News website (dsc.discovery.com), there was a recent breakout at a Virginia animal shelter that led to the death of a 15-year-old Whippet and sickened 26 other dogs.

But even though there may not be any confirmed cases of canine influenza in Oklahoma, Kapil said, “it’s very important that people know about dog flu.”

“Canine influenza, just like any other influenza is highly contagious,” he said, noting that “since the virus was not present in nature, all dogs are susceptible.”

However, some dogs can be at a higher risk than others, Kapil said, including “those that are stressed due to transportation, sitting in a limited space such as in a shelter or commingling with others at shows or doggy parks.”

Angie Prather, a veterinarian with the Ellis County Animal Hospital in Shattuck, said the reason the virus is spreading like it is, is because it is an airborne virus and can be contracted “from being in contact with other animals.”

“The key to prevention is going to be to limit exposure to other dogs,” Prather said.

Furthermore, there is no particular dog flu season, she said, so owners must always be on guard.

“It’s out there; you have to watch for it,” Prather said.

Canine influenza is marked by respiratory problems, where the dog may suffer from labored breathing, coughing and even nasal discharge, Prather said.

Other symptoms can include diminished appetite and fever, she said.

As the influenza weakens animals’ immune systems, the dogs can become susceptible to other illnesses and can even contract pneumonia or other potentially fatal diseases.

While most cases of dog flu involve the “mild form” of the disease, both Prather and Kapil said that a small percentage of dogs do die from canine influenza and/or secondary diseases contracted while the dog is sick from canine influenza.

“If you think your dog is sick, take it to the vet. The earlier you get help, the better it’s going to be for your dog,” Prather said.

The vet won’t be able to treat the virus directly, she said, but the vet can provide the dog with antibiotics to protect it from other infections as well as provide IV fluids and other supportive medicine to “treat the symptoms we’re seeing.”

“If an owner is concerned, the good news is a vaccine has become available,” Kapil said.

However, he said the vaccine is currently only recommended for “high risk animals,” such as dogs in shelters or those that compete in shows.

According to a report listed on the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) website www.avma.org, “the (U. S.) Department of Agriculture announced in June that it had issued a conditional license for the first canine influenza virus vaccine.”

The AVMA report states “ the vaccine, which is made from killed virus and is intended to aid in controlling disease associated with infection with canine influenza virus type A, … is administered by injection and is recommended for use in healthy dogs that are six weeks of age or older.”

To learn more about the vaccine or about dog flu itself speak with your veterinarian.

But while dog owners should be alert about the dangers of dog flu, Kapil said, “we want people not to panic.”

Prather added that the virus does not seem to pass to other species.

“Humans can’t get it from dogs,” she said.