May 22, 2015
Last month, the H3N2 dog flu raised alarm among pet owners when more than 1,100 cases were reported in the Chicago area, but with the virus now popping up in other states, how likely is the danger it will spread to the eastern seaboard?
According to NJ.com, the first case of H3N2 in New Jersey was officially documented after it was learned that a dog, treated for the disease in New York and thought to be from that state, was discovered to be from the Garden State. Before learning of the infected dog's residency, New Jersey officials had issued a warning to dog owners in April about the highly contagious respiratory disease, which is spread most often when owners board their pets in kennels during vacations.
Mild forms of the disease include a moist cough lasting up to 30 days, with a fever, reduced appetite and sneezing. Dogs who contract the severe form exhibit a high fever and pneumonia. Although the disease is only fatal for one out of ten dogs with the virus, the experience can be hard on pets and costly for their owners.
According to veterinary professor Keith Poulsen of the University of Madison-Wisconsin, who was interviewed by USA Today, the virus spreads as a result of nose-to-nose (or direct) contact between dogs. It can adapt to create various strains and does not have a specific cure, so the prescribed treatment is a combination of rest, fluids and antibiotics for accompanying illnesses.
A canine influenza vaccine is available for dogs who have frequent exposure to other dogs -- at parks, for example -- and dogs who attend daycare or are entering kennels. Pet owners in areas where the virus has spiked are advised to speak with veterinarians if these conditions fit their dog's lifestyle. It is recommended that dogs be vaccinated four weeks in advance of their stay in a kennel.
H3N2 has surfaced in a total of 12 states, according to a recent report from Cornell University's Animal Health Diagnostic Center. Positive tests have been confirmed in Alabama, California, Texas, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
The Centers for Disease Control states that there is no evidence of transmission of the virus between dogs and humans, however, it may have originated from an avian form of flu in Asia and could potentially be transmitted to cats.
If you notice your dog has symptoms associated with the canine flu, reach out to your veterinarian for guidance.
