What is Dog Flu?
Dog flu, H3N8, is a flu virus, originally found in horses that is now occurring in canines. Canine flu is contagious and can be spread from dog to dog. A few infected dogs will have a serious illness. Canine flu was first discovered in 2005 in greyhounds in Florida. While scientists first believed that the illness was specific to the working greyhounds, they later discovered that domestic pets were contracting the flu virus. Humans do not get sick after being exposed to this flu. And it is different from flu viruses like
swine flu
and
bird flu.
Dog Flu SymptomsMost likely, if your dog has canine flu, you will notice a cough. The cough normally lasts for 10-30 days. Because of the cough, this disease is often confused initially with kennel cough.Other symptoms that you might notice are runny nose and a fever. Do you know how to take a dog's temperature ? 80% of dogs who get dog flu will have a mild case. Some will not show any symptoms at all. A few dogs get seriously ill and develop pneumonia. And, of those dogs with pneumonia, 5-8% will die. Get Vet Help NowSave time, money and the hassle of a trip to the vet's. Get affordable expert advice, for non-emergencies, from a
pet doctor online. How Do Dogs Get Canine Flu?The spread of this flu virus is efficient. That means that it is easy for one dog to catch it from another. Here are some of the ways that your dog can get the virus:
There are tests to determine if your dog has canine influenza. They test the saliva or blood, and your veterinarian can perform the test. There is no preventative vaccine available.
Canine Flu TreatmentTreatment for canine flu is just keeping your dog comfortable and supporting her. Because there is no natural immunity in a dog for a horse virus, your sick dog needs to strengthen her immune system.Make sure your dog gets plenty of fluids, and the vet may prescribe some medications to relieve the symptoms. If your dog develops a secondary infection like pneumonia, the vet may prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic for her. While dog flu is a fairly new disease to dogs, for the most part, dogs will only get a mild infection. The disease is often difficult to distinguish from kennel cough, so make sure you take your dog to the veterinarian if you suspect either disease. Information for this article was obtained from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
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