Local Vet Recommends Increased Vigilance About Canine Influenza

This article is written by Pem McNerney:

About a month ago, Guilford Veterinary Hospital, which serves customers along the shoreline from East Haven to Old Saybrook, started seeing a few dogs with symptoms that included coughing, fever, listlessness, and runny, snotty noses. 

It was initially puzzling because some of these dogs had been vaccinated against bordetella, also known as kennel cough, and canine parainfluenza virus. After sending out some blood work for tests, the hospital discovered that the dogs had canine influenza virus, a disease that affects dogs only. There are no known cases of it being passed to humans. But it has the potential to affect any dog who has not received the canine influenza vaccine and that socializes with other dogs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "The 'canine influenza virus' is an influenza A H3N8 influenza virus (not a human influenza virus) that was originally an equine (horse) influenza virus. This virus has spread to dogs and can now spread between dogs."

In all, Guilford Veterinary Hospital suspects that they have seen more than 20 dogs in recent weeks that have exhibited symptoms typical of dog flu and they are urging all dog owners along the shoreline to have a conversation with their veterinarian about vaccinations and preventative measures. New Haven Animal Hospital, a 24-hour emergency veterinarian in New Haven, said Monday they have seen some cases as well.

After determining that the illness was canine influenza, Guilford Veterinary Hospital sterilized all of its exam rooms and designated one exam room at the back of their hospital near the door for exams on potentially infected dogs, to minimize the risk of cross contamination, said Dr. Donald Mullen, a veterinarian and co-owner of the hospital. They have also alerted all of their customers about the outbreak. 

Mullen said any dog that is not vaccinated specifically for canine influenza is potentially at risk, including dogs who drink from community dog bowls, dogs who go to doggie day care, dogs who play at a dog parks, dogs that meet other dogs while dog walking, dogs that play off leash, and, really, any dog that socializes with other dogs. 

Dogs can pass the disease on to other dogs. A dog owner that spends time with one dog, and then another dog can pass the disease on without the dogs ever meeting. The disease also can be passed on through toys and other "fomites" or inanimate objects that carry the disease, Mullen said. 

Since the disease was first discovered in 2004 among racing Greyhounds in Florida, it has been confirmed in 39 states including Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. While the disease is potentially life threatening for the dogs, dog owners can protect against it with a vaccine and infected dogs can usually recover with the proper care, Mullen said. They key is to make sure dogs are appropriately vaccinated and that dogs who may have been exposed and who are exhibiting symptoms receive proper treatment, he said. 

Mullen said the vaccine is generally considered to be safe and that he has vaccinated his own dogs, a yellow lab named Indie, and a dachshund named Wally. "It's safe enough that I give it to my own dogs," he said. "And now that I've seen the disease, it's not something I want them to get."

To be fully protected, a dog needs two vaccinations and full protection does not take effect for almost three weeks, Mullen said. The vaccine will not protect a dog retroactively if it is exposed prior to being vaccinated.

Dogs that have not been vaccinated should absolutely not socialize with coughing dogs. Dogs that develop a cough should not be allowed to socialize with other dogs. If a dog starts coughing, Mullen recommended the owner schedule a visit with the vet.

"Don't be offended if your veterinarian says come in the back door," he said. "If your dog develops a fever, listlessness, or a snotty nose, don't be surprised if your vet wants to do a blood test, or chest x-rays. Some dogs may need hospitalization." 

Some dogs can develop pneumonia and die if not properly and promptly treated, Mullen said. Among the racing greyhounds where the disease initially emerged, the mortality rate was about 47 percent, he said, but that may have been because the dogs lived in a stressful environment, where they were crowded and may not have been receiving optimal nutrition. "So the conditions may have contributed to that," he said, after the dogs were exposed.

He said dogs that exhibit symptoms may not have the flu. It could be allergies or some other problem. But the key is getting the dog checked out if they start to exhibit symptoms, Mullen said. 

And if a dog has not been vaccinated, the dog owner should have a serious conversation with the dog's vet as to whether the vaccine is an appropriate choice, Mullen said. 

"There are no known side effects to the vaccine," he said. "But you need to talk with your veterinarian as to the risks of doing it and the risks of not doing it. You need to consider the dog, the age of the dog, and its medical condition. A 19-year-old chihuahua that lives in the kitchen, and goes nowhere, and has a dog owner that does not come into contact with other dogs might not need it."

But most other dogs might, he said. 

"I'm a believer in preventative care," Mullen said.