New Dog Flu Virus Surfacing!! The What, Where, & How To Avoid

There has been a new dog flu virus that has currently affected over 1000 dogs and is responsible for 6 deaths in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The virus most likely started in Asia. The strain has been found in China and Korea, it is estimated an infected dog came from China to Chicago.

The flu virus is not the same as the previous virus, named H3N8, that has been circulating since 2004. The new virus has been named H3N2 and exhibits symptoms very much alike a human flu:

• Coughing
• Nasal Discharge
• Fever
• Loss of Appetite

However, a very small percentage of dogs can carry this new virus without showing any symptoms.

Dr. Keith Paulsen from the University of Wisconsin-Madison explained the virus most likely spreads predominantly through nose to nose contact, which can happen at the dog park, vet office, on the street, at a daycare, and just about anywhere your dog can come into contact with another dog. I am not saying to quarantine your dog from others, just be vigilant and if your dog starts to show any signs of the H3N2 flu virus treat it immediately. Fortunately, there have been no cases of humans getting sick from dog contact, however, there have been reports of cats getting sick from being in direct contact with infected dogs, but no virus-positive cats have been identified yet.

The H3N2 flu virus:

• Has a 3 day incubation period
• An infected dog can be contagious for up to 14 days
• The symptoms can last anywhere from just under 5 to just over 7 days, however the cough can last for several weeks

There is a vaccination for the previous H3N8 flu virus, but is only available for dogs who are at high risk of contracting the virus. It is unsure if the vaccination for H3N8 will be effective for the new strain. Few pharmaceutical companies are working on a vaccination for the new strand, but it will be 4-6 months before anything becomes available, so the best thing we can currently do is be vigilant and if your dog does get infected, avoid any nose to nose contact!

Xoxo P

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