After the dog flu outbreak in the Midwest in late spring, many pet owners worried about their dogs and wondered if canine flu and other contagious diseases posed a threat.
For many, illnesses like kennel cough or canine flu weren't a major concern, often resulting in a lax approach to vaccinations. Unfortunately, unvaccinated dogs are at risk of contracting and spreading many diseases to other dogs (and sometimes to other animals and humans in the case of zoonoses). But what about kennel cough and canine flu?
What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough is basically a catch-all term used to describe a variety of viral and bacterial canine flu symptoms.
Kennel cough can be caused by the canine influenza virus (CIV) or more commonly by bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica m, which is probably why you've heard of kennel cough known as Bordetella. .
Kennel cough is highly contagious and, like our colds and flu, it is spread by inhaling bacteria or virus particles. Because it spreads quickly between groups of animals, places like animal shelters and boarding houses are often associated with a higher risk of exposure.
Symptoms of kennel cough include coughing, sneezing, lethargy, runny nose and eye discharge.
In most cases, treatment involves keeping your pet hydrated, rested, and quarantined from other pets. If the case is more severe, antibiotics and other drugs are used until the symptoms go away.
So what is Canine Influenza?
The canine influenza virus (CIV) was first discovered in 2004 after an outbreak of the virus was detected in a group of greyhounds in Florida. The particular strain of this virus was called H3N8 and has been linked to a type of equine flu that has been around for over 40 years.
Since the outbreak, a vaccine has been developed to prevent H3N8 influenza.
The problem with this year's outbreak is that it was a new strain of the virus, H3N2, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is an avian flu virus that has spread to dogs.
Canine flu symptoms include coughing, wheezing, fever, runny nose, lethargy, and loss of appetite. To date, there is no specific vaccine for this strain and we are unsure of the effectiveness of the current vaccine to prevent H3N2. However, most affected dogs recover with prompt treatment with antibiotics and supportive care.
What Can I Do?
While we wait for more research and preventive options for CIV, there are some steps you can take to better protect your dog from these contagious viral and bacterial infections.
- Have your pet vaccinated against Bordetella (kennel cough) and CIV H3N8.
- Avoid dog parks, kennels and other places where your pet will be exposed to various unfamiliar animals.
- Keep your pet's immune system strong with regular preventative or wellness grooming, a nutritious diet, and exercise.
- Please contact us immediately if your pet exhibits the symptoms described.
We hope this article helps clear up some of the questions and confusion surrounding the complex family of bacterial and viral infections often referred to as kennel cough.
Read Also : Why are northern lights visible so far south?
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After the dog flu outbreak in the Midwest in late spring, many pet owners worried about their dogs and wondered if canine flu and other contagious diseases posed a threat.
For many, illnesses like kennel cough or canine flu weren't a major concern, often resulting in a lax approach to vaccinations. Unfortunately, unvaccinated dogs are at risk of contracting and spreading many diseases to other dogs (and sometimes to other animals and humans in the case of zoonoses). But what about kennel cough and canine flu?
What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough is basically a catch-all term used to describe a variety of viral and bacterial canine flu symptoms.
Kennel cough can be caused by the canine influenza virus (CIV) or more commonly by bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica m, which is probably why you've heard of kennel cough known as Bordetella. .
Kennel cough is highly contagious and, like our colds and flu, it is spread by inhaling bacteria or virus particles. Because it spreads quickly between groups of animals, places like animal shelters and boarding houses are often associated with a higher risk of exposure.
Symptoms of kennel cough include coughing, sneezing, lethargy, runny nose and eye discharge.
In most cases, treatment involves keeping your pet hydrated, rested, and quarantined from other pets. If the case is more severe, antibiotics and other drugs are used until the symptoms go away.
So what is Canine Influenza?
The canine influenza virus (CIV) was first discovered in 2004 after an outbreak of the virus was detected in a group of greyhounds in Florida. The particular strain of this virus was called H3N8 and has been linked to a type of equine flu that has been around for over 40 years.
Since the outbreak, a vaccine has been developed to prevent H3N8 influenza.
The problem with this year's outbreak is that it was a new strain of the virus, H3N2, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is an avian flu virus that has spread to dogs.
Canine flu symptoms include coughing, wheezing, fever, runny nose, lethargy, and loss of appetite. To date, there is no specific vaccine for this strain and we are unsure of the effectiveness of the current vaccine to prevent H3N2. However, most affected dogs recover with prompt treatment with antibiotics and supportive care.
What Can I Do?
While we wait for more research and preventive options for CIV, there are some steps you can take to better protect your dog from these contagious viral and bacterial infections.
We hope this article helps clear up some of the questions and confusion surrounding the complex family of bacterial and viral infections often referred to as kennel cough.
Read Also : Why are northern lights visible so far south?