COLUMNS
August 29, 2009 You have probably heard of Swine Flu, also known as "H1N1".
Dog owners have to be concerned about "H3N8" - Canine Influenza Virus or Dog Flu.
First discovered in 2004 among greyhounds at a Florida racetrack, Dog Flu is believed to have mutated from a strain of influenza that affects horses.
It has been found in more than thirty states (including Alabama).
The symptoms are coughing and sneezing, the same as for kennel cough, a common canine infection that is usually benign and often caused by bordetella bacteria.
But Dog Flu may also cause the animal to have a runny nose and fever that spikes as high as 106 degrees.
Dog Flu can lead to pneumonia in some cases, and is estimated to be fatal in five to eight percent of canines that contract it.
The virus is spread easily from dog to dog through the air and by direct contact between animals.
Dogs housed in places like kennels, shelters, and boarding facilities are particularly susceptible.
The disease can spread in parks and neighborhoods where people let their pets off the leash to socialize with each other.
It can be spread even by humans who handle more than one dog without taking precautions.
The virus is still new enough that your dog probably won't have any natural immunity to it, which means that almost every animal exposed will become infected – unless you have your pet inoculated with the new vaccine released on a conditional basis just this summer.
There is no evidence that this dog virus can spread to people.
But if your dog develops a persistent cough, take it to your veterinarian, who may administer antibiotics to help fight the infection.
And protect your pet by keeping your unvaccinated dogs away from other animals.
If your dog wants to socialize, it may be up to you to keep it company. After all, that's what best friends are for, when you're speaking of pets.
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