A New Dog Flu Virous Becomes Epidemic!?!

Are our beloved canines in danger? Myths and Truths!

There is a growing concern among pet owners about a quickly spreading strain of dog flu that has already sickened hundreds of dogs and killed 8.

So far the flu virus has been most active in the Midwest after first being detected in Chicago, but new cases have been confirmed in Houston, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio. Now there is concern in the Atlanta area, with the possibility of a new case popping up near the city, which has yet to be confirmed as the results are pending.

The dog flu virus spreads from nose-to-nose contact between an infected dog and another. It has the potential to rapidly spread because of this close proximity bodily contact and is now considered an epidemic. However, dog owners are urged not to panic.

The canine sickness causes symptoms similar to those of the human flu, such as coughing, nasal discharge, fever and loss of appetite, though a small percentage of dogs can be carriers of the virus without showing symptoms.

The new virus is different from the previous strain of dog flu, H3N8, that's been circulating in the United States since 2004. The new strain, known as H3N2, has been found in animals in China and Korea, and an infected animal probably brought it to Chicago.

Now that’s serious business! So as the canine flu outbreak in the Midwest reaches “near epidemic levels,” here’s what you need to know to keep your four-legged buddies safe in Chicago-land and beyond.

There are easy ways to monitor and safeguard your pet’s health. First, keep puppies and other immune compromised dogs, like sick one or those of advanced age, away from other dogs. Second, if you suspect that your dog is infected with the flu make sure to contact your veterinarian immediately. It is most contagious within the first 4 days of being infected so the earlier it is caught the less it will spread. Finally, humans cannot contract the dog flu but they can spread it. Make sure to wash and disinfect your hands after petting any animals and look out for any warning signs or symptoms in the dogs you interact with.

“The important thing is that people not panic over this. Canine flu is a new disease, so there is a lot we don’t know about it, but the mortality rate is very low, and many dogs don’t even get sick from it. It made a huge splash in the press because the molecular genetics part of the story established such a clear cross-species transmission of an influenza virus-not because it is a new, deadly disease of dogs. The virulence of this virus has been greatly exaggerated by some.”

–Dr Tom Graves, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

Sources: Sun Gazing, funworld17

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