Dog Flu Epidemic Spreading?

Hello!

Strangely enough, now as spring has sprung and humans are breathing a sigh of relief our canine friends need to be watched over by their caretakers for dog flu. As it started last year in Chicago, it has again this year. Chicago is reporting that over 1,000 dogs have been infected and this is the worst outbreak in the area ever. At this time on April 7, 2015 Illinois is the primary state, but two others have been affected recently: IN and IA. The only area reported at this time is the Chicago area. the virus over the past few years has been seen in every state, but not with this severity of the present outbreak.

Last year, the outbreaks were self-contained in Chicago and NYC. Each dog owner's experience is different and the best recommendation is to follow your veterinarian's advice as to how to proceed in your area.

There is a vaccine for the canine flu, and depending upon who you talk to it's either really effective, or just lessens the impact if your dog gets it. In the Chicago-area a dog flu shot is approximately $100. However, if your dog gets critically ill from the flu, requiring IV's and supportive assistance from your vet the cost can skyrocket to $1000.00.

The important things to remember are that at this time human beings cannot catch dog flu. However, they can pass it on to other dogs and infect them just as dogs can pass it one to the other. It's recommended in the affected areas not to use dog parks, or mix with other canines until the outbreak is over with. There are concerns regarding mutations in the virus that eventually will make it possible for humans to catch the virus as well. Remember that's what viruses like to do....mutate. Much like we watch for bird flu to contain it so it doesn't mutate to human beings, the veterinary community has been making every effort to prevent the virus from being able to eventually infect humans.

Continue to do what you have been doing for your healthy canine: keep your dog on regular shots and medications, veterinarian check-ups, good nutrition, avoiding obesity in your dog, routinely assess your dog for health every day. Good hand-washing should be routine in all households, with a dog or not. Washing hands after playing with your dog, other dogs, or if you work with dogs is a good first barrier to not passing this virus around. Most of all, remain calm and hug your dog!

If your companion gets ill these are the symptoms to look for:

Mild, low-grade fever (103°F)

Lethargy (tiredness)

Loss of appetite

Cough, which may be dry or may bring up sputum

Runny nose with clear secretions at first, but may later change to a thick and yellow and/or pink-tinged color

If your dog does get the flu these are some measures your veterinarian might use to get them over it:

Good nutrition to boost immunity

A warm comfortable place to rest

Medications for bacterial infections

If dehydrated an IV at your vets & checking for pneumonia

Remember that the dog flu appears limited to the area discussed. Most dogs do fine with this illness. A very small amount do not. As always check with your veterinarian as to how you proceed in your particular situation. For people that travel with their dog the outbreak is of course of concern, due to the fact the virus can be spread so easily. For those with service dogs, checking with their placement agency and local veterinarian is the course that seems best. I always check with both when I have a medical question regarding my service dog Frax.

Lisa Vaught

RN, BAHS

creative writing, art, digital photography

you can read this article also at “My Helper Wears A Fur Suit”, http:/lisa.vaught.wix/service-dog-blog

Here are some websites with more information:

CBS News April 5, 2015, 2:47 AM

Chicago's canine flu outbreak "almost an epidemic," vets say

As the flu season winds down for humans, veterinarians in the Chicago area warned of a deadly outbreak of canine influenza.

More than 1,000 cases of canine infectious respiratory disease have been reported in recent weeks, with at least five dogs dying from the infection.

"It's almost an epidemic," Dr. Jerry Klein told CBS station WBBM-TV. "I've been here for 35 years, it's probably the worst type of outbreak I've ever experienced."

Canine influenza reaching epidemic proportions

Veterinarians in the Chicago area are seeing hundreds of cases of dogs sick with canine influenza. It’s highly contagious and can be transmitted ...

Klein is the supervising veterinarian at the Chicago Veterinary Emergency Center, which has handled about 15 cases of canine flu daily.

"We have had a few fatalities, so that's why it's exceedingly serious," Klein said. "It causes pneumonia, in some cases, and some of these dogs have to be on oxygen and on ventilation."

People cannot get it from their pets, but the illness is extremely contagious between dogs that come into close contact with each other.

On Friday, the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control urged pet owners in the area to avoid dog parks, group dog training activities, animal boarding houses and travel.

After several dogs at PetSmart boarding facilities got sick, the company temporarily closed three Chicago-area locations to be disinfected. Other groomers and "doggy day care" companies were limiting operations, WBBM reported.

PetSmart spokesman Andy Izquierdo told WBBM 780's Lisa Fielding the company was reminding dog owners about the symptoms, which include a persistent cough, runny nose and fever.

"If they've been in a boarding facility, if they've been at a doggy day camp, or a dog park, that's an area where this virus can be spread," Izquierdo said. "Take a look at your dog, look for symptoms, keep them isolated if at all possible."

Dr. Judith Schwartz, the staff veterinarian at the Humane Society of New York, called the outbreak "very" concerning.

"Especially if it's within a certain period of time," Schwartz told CBS News' Kris Van Kleave. "That's very, very... that's frightening."

Schwartz said treating dog flu can cost thousands of dollars if the animal has to be hospitalized in isolation. An annual vaccine, considered to be highly effective, costs about $100.

"It's (a) concern for me not just because of the animals I see," Schwartz said, "but we could have a dog in the waiting room saying hello to another dog in the waiting room, and they could be incubating -- and no one would know it."

Unlike with human influenza, the number of cases nationwide isn't tracked. Since the condition was first discovered in 2004, 40 states have experienced outbreaks. Researchers said 2011 was the worst year on record, with 17 states reporting infections.

Chicago animal control officials said the outbreak could last several more weeks.

https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/news/civ.cfm

http://time.com/3773332/canine-flu-chicago-

dogshttp://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-dog-flu-st-0406-20150403-story.html

http://outbreaknewstoday.com/chicago-sees-surge-in-canine-flu-at-least-5-dogs-have-died-67724/

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dogs-and-flu-what-you-need-to-know

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/canine-influenza-viruscanine-flu

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Outbreak-of-Canine-Influenza-Hits-Chicago-Area-298050021.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/canine-flu-outbreak-hits-chicago-sickens-1000-dogs/story?id=30124599

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