Learn more about Canine Influenza at www.doginfluenza.com

You may have heard about a new and worrisome illness that has been spreading from dog to dog, initially raising public concern.

However, there is no need to panic at the first sign of respiratory illness in your dog, Many dogs who contract canlne flu clear it up on their own, and with a few simple precautions, like keeping potentially ill dogs away from other dogs, you can help to limit the transmission of the disease. Read the frequently asked questions below to find out more about this disease and how to detect it.

What is canine flu?
Canine influenza is a newly identified respiratory illness of dogs. It is caused by a virus which is closely related to the horse flu virus. Because canine flu is an emerging disease, dogs have no natural immunity to it. Nearly all dogs exposed to the fly virus will get infected, but not all will have clinical (that is, visible) signs of the flu. Therefore, even dogs without clinical signs can pass the virus to others because they may be infected with it.

Why haven’t I heard about canine flu before now?
Canine flu is new. Initial cases of respiratory disease outbreaks were reported at U.S. greyhound racetracks in 2004. It took many months for the researchers to isolate, identify, and characterize the virus and to prove that the virus was the cause of the respiratory illness in the greyhounds. In early 2005, the disease was identified in pet dogs in Florida. Cases have now been found in several states.

How can my dog get canine flu?
The virus spreads most easily where a number of dogs are kept in close proximity, such as boarding kennels, doggie day care, and dog parks, but it can also be passed dog to dog on the street. The virus is present in respiratory secretions of infected animals—that is, secretions from the nose.

How would I know if my dog has flu?
Dogs with flu have a fever, runny nose, and a cough. Unfortunately these symptoms are very similar to those of a well-known disease called “kennel cough.” However, kennel cough is a bacterial infection for which there is an effective vaccine. They are alike in that both the flu and kennel cough can progress to pneumonia, and both must be treated by a veterinarian. Since the flu looks like kennel cough, you cannot assume these symptoms are signs of kennel cough. If your dog displays evidence of a fever, runny nose or cough, call your veterinarian immediately.

Can my dog die from this disease?
Most dogs make a full recovery from the flu within a few weeks, but there have been some cases reported in which the flu has progressed to pneumonia. There have also been a few fatalities reported as a result of this virus. Because this is a new disease, veterinary medicine does not yet have adequate information to predict the outcome in all dogs. Therefore, we cannot stress enough the importance of getting veterinary care at the first sign of respiratory disease, as early care does seem related to recovery.

Can humans get flu from their dogs?
ODO researchers do not expect transmission to humans.

To help prevent your dog from catching Canine Influenza, call your veterinarian today at 215-536-6245 to schedule your pet's appointment and to get vaccinated with the NEW Canine Influenza Vaccine.