Warning: Canine Influenza

[Imani's Mom]

It has unfortunately come to my attention that the canine flu is
making it's rounds this summer at the dog shows. EVERYONE needs to be
aware of the signs and symptoms of this "potentially" fatal flu. This
flu is not confined to just the dog show circuit. If you board, take
your dog to the vet, park or have your dog groomed....it is at risk.
It is estimated that nearly 100% of the dogs exposed to the flu will
become infected. 80% will exhibit symptoms. 1% to 8% will develop a
more severe pneumonia from it. The key to combating the flu is fast
veterinary care. As soon as your dog exhibits symptoms....do not
assume that it is a cold or kennel cough....seek veterinary care
immediately.
SYMPTOMS - MILD - persistant cough, green/yellow discharge from the
nose, low-grade fever. SEVERE - high-grade fever and increased
respiratory rate and effort. (MOST DOGS WILL EXPERIENCE THE MILD
VERSION OF THIS FLU.) Symptoms can last 10 to 21 days even with
antibiotics and cough suppressants.
INCUBATION PERIOD - symptoms appear within 2 to five days, but the
virus can be shed for 7 to 10 days from the time that dogs first
exhibit symptoms. Unfortunately dogs who do not show symptoms, but are
infected can still spread the virus.
TRANSMISSION - this is an airborne virus and is also spread via
contamination of surfaces and people who have come into contact with
infected animals.
DIAGNOSIS - nasal swabs and serology test.
TREATMENT - broad-spectrum antibiotics for any secondary bacterial
infection and intravenous fluids.
There is no vaccine for canine influenza. Humans cannot get Canine
Influenza. Disinfectants and 10% bleach will kill the virus on surfaces.
The flu seems to target puppies, older dogs and dogs with compromised
immune systems. The key to treating it is "immediate" veterinary care.

Canine Influenza was reported at the Winston Salem shows. So please be
aware that if you were at these shows and your dog exhibits any of the
symptoms....pl ease seek veterinary intervention immediately.

PLEASE CROSS POST TO ALL LIST.
Yvette Ferguson
CCCI Health Research Committee

[newflvr]

WoW!!! Thanks for posting that!  Cowboy has a compromised immune system so I guess I'll be keeping him close to home for a while!  Well POOP!!

[DixieSugarBear]

We are going to a show next weekend in Atlanta.  I will make sure I watch them very close.

Lisa

[Imani's Mom]

You definitely do not want your babies to catch it.  Mine had it back in April/May, and it takes a lot out of them, and lasts a full month, whether treated with antibiotics or not.  One of mine caught it at her first show, and of course all the others who were with her got it too, and then my other girl got it, and when Jesse got here, he had a mild case of it as well.

What to look for: The first symptom each of them showed was suddenly coughing like they have something stuck in their throats and are trying to get it out.  SO much so that we were looking to see what they had caught in there!  It starts out of the blue, and they just keep doing that for several days, and then the rest of the symptoms appear.  They are the sickest they will be during the first two weeks, then gradually gain back their energy, though the nasty runny nose lasts the whole month.

[DixieSugarBear]

Does anyone know if it is making the rounds in Georgia?

[ZooCrew]

I see it's making its rounds this year as well.  Gunther had it last Aug/Sept and it wasn't pretty.  This was before it was really known throughout the US and the vet treated him for kennel cough.  But he had a spiked fever, really bad discharge, was lethargic, and stopped eating for an entire week.  I had to force feed him Nutrical.  He lost b/t 7-10 lbs, which isn't good on an already slim frame. 

Keiko, on the other hand, showed no symptoms whatsoever.

[bigdogs@5501]

I adopted Bailey from a shelter- she was exposed to the canine flu while she was at the shelter in February this year and it was horrible. The infection was so bad, that you could smell it and it smelled horrible. Poor pup, I walked behind her wiping her nose constantly because of the green snot. She was originally put on Amoxicillin 2 x's a day for 10 days and nothing- then she was put on Clavamox for 10 days and was receiving Gentamycin injections 2 x's a day for 5 days. Poor pup was a pin cushion- but she finally got over it- We were lucky- she was the only pup in the house at the time and the older dogs didnt catch it from her. Early treatment is really important with this stuff.

[Imani's Mom]

Yes! The smell was something, wasn't it?  Besides Parvo, this flu was the only canine illness I know of that has its own distinct smell.