November 3, 2009
By Kyle Kennedy
The Ledger, Lakeland, FL
LAKELAND | Message from your dog: I can get the flu, too.
Sporadic outbreaks of a virus called H3N8, or canine influenza, have veterinarians on alert and recommending vaccinations for certain dogs.
Photo: Loren Nations DVM holds a small package of Canine Influenza Vaccine H3N8 vials at Veterinary Healthcare Associates in Winter Haven, Florida October 30, 2009.
The virus is highly contagious and carries a slight risk of severe illness or even death, but no outbreaks have been reported in the area. Still, many local vets offer the vaccine and advise it for pooches that are frequently in contact with other dogs.
"The dogs that are boarded or groomed frequently, the dog that encounters a lot of other animals, that would be a candidate for the vaccine," said David Saylor, a veterinarian at Northside Animal Clinic in Lakeland.
H3N8 originated in horses and is thought to have made the jump to dogs in 2004, when it began appearing in racing greyhounds in Florida. Since then, more than 1,000 cases have been reported in 30 states, according to a report by Cornell University.
The symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever and lethargy.
The flu is spread between dogs via respiratory secretions but can also be spread by contact with contaminated clothing or equipment.
There is no known risk to humans, but people can transmit the virus by moving between infected and healthy groups of dogs, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Dog flu is confirmed by medical tests, and is typically treated with a regimen of antibiotics, fluids and supportive care. For preventive care, the vaccine costs roughly $25 to $30 and is given in a series of two injections a few weeks apart.
Loren Nations, the medical director at Veterinary Healthcare Associates in Winter Haven, said the clinic has received inquires and requests for the vaccine.
"It kind of mimics swine flu in people in that it's fairly contagious. Eighty percent of dogs that are exposed are going to show clinical signs," Nations said. Dogs stricken with severe cases can develop pneumonia, he said.
He also recommends the vaccine for dogs that often mix with others.
"That could be a kennel or a dog show," or even dog parks and obedience classes, Nations said.
Mitsie Vargas, a vet at Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven, said not all dog owners should fear the flu.
"The dogs that are inside the house that don't really go anywhere, they don't really need" the vaccine, she said.
However, "If you think your dog is at risk, get the vaccine," Vargas said.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20091103/NEWS/911035029?Title=Veterinarians-Warn-Of-Canine-Influenza