What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know About Canine lnfluenza
Published by American Animal Hospital Association
Know the facts about canine influenza.
Canine influenza is easily spread from dog to dog. Canine influenza is spread when dogs sneeze, cough, or bark. It can also be transmitted through direct contact with an infected dog, as well as through fomites and people who have been in contact with infected dogs. Virtually all dogs become infected when exposed to the virus, and approximately 8O% will develop clinical illness, while 2O% will not show clinical signs but will still spread the virus.
If your dog is at risk of Bordetella infection, they are also at risk of canine influenza infection. Canine influenza and Bordetella are spread the same way, and social dogs are at risk of contracting both infections.
If your dog receives a Bordetella vaccine, they should also receive a canine influenza vaccine. While the pet-care businesses your dog frequents currently may only require the Bordetella vaccine, vaccinating against canine influenza virus is in your dog’s best interest.
Not all respiratory pathogens are the same, and testing to determine the causative agent is important. Bordetella infections are typically mild, whereas canine influenza infections are often more severe and can cause significant lung damage or death. Identifying the pathogen is helpful in determining prognosis and treatment and isolation protocols.
All social dogs are at risk of contracting respiratory infections, including canine influenza. Dogs who go to doggy daycare, boarding facilities, or grooming venters contact other dogs more frequently and are more likely to be exposed to infectious pathogens, including H3N8 and H3N2.
Early detection is critical to diagnose the cause of infection and start treatment. Clients should seek immediate care for dogs displaying infectious respiratory disease signs so PCR testing can be performed during peak viral shedding, infected dogs can be isolate to prevent spread, and treatment can be initiated to minimize disease severity.
Vaccination is the only effective means of preventing canine influenza. The highly infectious nature of canine influenza makes avoidance an ineffective means of prevention for most dogs. Even if there has not been a local canine influenza outbreak, it is only a matter of time before the virus hits your area.
There is a low risk of side effects or adverse reactions to vaccination. Clients may be concerned about adding another vaccine to their pet’s prevention protocol. The vaccine contains killed virus, and it will not cause canine influenza infection in dogs.
Canine influenza will remain a significant thread to dogs. H3N8 has caused canine infection throughout the US for more than 15 years, and H3N2 for more than 4 years. Both viruses continue to infect dogs, and we can expect them to continue causing infection and disease.