Vicki
Administrator
Sept 15, 2009
Add your dog to the list of family members who could be in line for a new vaccine this fall.
Before making boarding arrangements for vacations or the holiday season, dog owners should check with their veterinarians about the highly contagious canine influenza virus (CIV), says Kimberly May, spokesperson for the
American Veterinary Medical Association.
CIV is rarely fatal and, unlike swine flu, humans cannot get this virus from dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it causes acute respiratory infections in dogs, and virtually all dogs who are exposed become infected. During the incubation period of two to four days, pets who appear healthy can still be spreading the germs.
That is why some kennels in parts of the country where the flu is present have recently started requiring vaccinations before accepting reservations. That doesn't surprise May, who also recommends exploring options such as having a house sitter stay with your pet.
"The kennels are trying to cover their bases," May says. "Any infectious disease is more likely to spread when you pull a large group of dogs together into one area. I'm not saying I agree with the clinics requiring vaccines, but I certainly understand it."
The first recognized outbreak of the disease occurred in 2004 in Florida at a dog track. Since then, CIV has been documented in 30 states and Washington, D.C., and is currently "very prevalent" in areas of Colorado, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania, according to the AVMA.
"For so many dogs, it is their first time seeing this virus," May says. "Since it's such a new virus their immune system doesn't recognize it."
Symptoms include a nasal discharge, cough and low-grade fever. Most dogs will recover in several weeks, but secondary complications in more severely infected dogs can lead to pneumonia and death.
Veterinarians can determine whether a dog requires the vaccine, developed by Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health Corp. and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in May. The two shots, costing about $20 each, are given two to four weeks apart to dogs 6 weeks and older and can be repeated annually.
That added expense and inconvenience of two extra trips to the vet is less expensive than the alternative, says Cynda Crawford, assistant professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida.
"The availability of a vaccine can help prevent the medical, financial and emotional costs associated with this new virus," Crawford says.
Many vets are embarking on a crash course on the virus.
Boarding your dogs? Find out if they need a flu vaccine - Paw Print Post: A community for Dog, Cat, and Pet Owners - USATODAY.com
Add your dog to the list of family members who could be in line for a new vaccine this fall.
Before making boarding arrangements for vacations or the holiday season, dog owners should check with their veterinarians about the highly contagious canine influenza virus (CIV), says Kimberly May, spokesperson for the
American Veterinary Medical Association.
CIV is rarely fatal and, unlike swine flu, humans cannot get this virus from dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it causes acute respiratory infections in dogs, and virtually all dogs who are exposed become infected. During the incubation period of two to four days, pets who appear healthy can still be spreading the germs.
That is why some kennels in parts of the country where the flu is present have recently started requiring vaccinations before accepting reservations. That doesn't surprise May, who also recommends exploring options such as having a house sitter stay with your pet.
"The kennels are trying to cover their bases," May says. "Any infectious disease is more likely to spread when you pull a large group of dogs together into one area. I'm not saying I agree with the clinics requiring vaccines, but I certainly understand it."
The first recognized outbreak of the disease occurred in 2004 in Florida at a dog track. Since then, CIV has been documented in 30 states and Washington, D.C., and is currently "very prevalent" in areas of Colorado, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania, according to the AVMA.
"For so many dogs, it is their first time seeing this virus," May says. "Since it's such a new virus their immune system doesn't recognize it."
Symptoms include a nasal discharge, cough and low-grade fever. Most dogs will recover in several weeks, but secondary complications in more severely infected dogs can lead to pneumonia and death.
Veterinarians can determine whether a dog requires the vaccine, developed by Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health Corp. and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in May. The two shots, costing about $20 each, are given two to four weeks apart to dogs 6 weeks and older and can be repeated annually.
That added expense and inconvenience of two extra trips to the vet is less expensive than the alternative, says Cynda Crawford, assistant professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida.
"The availability of a vaccine can help prevent the medical, financial and emotional costs associated with this new virus," Crawford says.
Many vets are embarking on a crash course on the virus.
Boarding your dogs? Find out if they need a flu vaccine - Paw Print Post: A community for Dog, Cat, and Pet Owners - USATODAY.com