our advice : ASK DR . CATE
Vet Rap by Dr . Ryan Cate
Dog Influenza — Pay Attention to Signs and Symptoms
Question : Dear Dr . Cate , I read that there have been several cases of canine influenza in Texas . Is that something that I should be watching for in my dogs ?
Answer : First , there have only been five cases so far in Texas , so it ’ s not time to panic . However , one of those confirmed cases was in Hood County , so it ’ s a good idea to be aware of the signs and symptoms and be looking for them in your pet .
Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs caused by one of two different strains of flu virus . The disease isn ’ t life-threatening in most dogs , with only a 10 percent or less morbidity rate . Cats can also catch the virus , but there have been no feline deaths because of the disease . The virus was first reported in the United States in 2004 and is closely related to the one that causes equine influenza . Since May of 2015 , thousands of dogs have been confirmed positive for canine influenza in at least 40 different states .
That being said , it ’ s still important to watch your dog or cat carefully for signs . The clinical signs are coughing , sneezing and nasal discharge . Dogs with the mild form of the virus develop a soft , moist cough that can last from as little as 10 days to a full month . Animals will be lethargic , have little to no appetite , and discharge from the eyes and or nose may be seen . The severe form of the virus will have your animal developing a high fever , increased respiratory rates and effort breathing .
Your pet can also develop pneumonia due to a secondary bacterial infection . If your dog or cat becomes ill , it may need medication for any secondary infections , anti-inflammatory medications to reduce fever and inflammation as well as increased fluids to keep hydrated . Most animals will fully recover in two to three weeks .
While the virus is highly contagious between dogs , there is no incidence of it being transmitted to other animals like horses . However , in Asia , there has been transmission to cats and guinea pigs . Cat-to-cat transmission is also possible . The virus has not been found to spread to people ; however , it is a good idea to keep pregnant women , elderly people , small children and those with compromised immune systems away from sick dogs and cats .
During the summer months , many people kennel their animals when going on vacation . If your dog or cat has a cough , make sure that you make your vet aware of it so your pet can be checked for the flu . It can spread via direct contact with the animal ’ s secretions , through sneezing , barking or coughing . Ask your vet about their practices to isolate and treat any infected animals to make sure that all measures are being taken to keep your pet healthy while you are on vacation . Facilities should be adhering to a strict hand-washing routine between handling different animals , as well as donning fresh gowns and gloves after handling sick animals or cleaning cages . The influenza virus can live for up to two days in the environment and 24 hours on hands and clothing .
The best prevention for your pet is through vaccination . The vaccine should be given two weeks before a planned visit to the kennel . And remember , this shot is not part of the routine distemper , parvo and rabies vaccines that your dog usually receives . There is a vaccine for only one of the two viral strains , but only your vet can identify which one , if any , your pet has .
As long as your vet ’ s facility has good infection control practices in place , dog and cat owners should not be overly concerned with kenneling their pets while they are away from home , at dog parks , or other areas frequented by dogs . As of June , there were only a few cases throughout the great state of Texas , but it ’ s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your animal ’ s health .
JULY 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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