Dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease
in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus known as canine influenza
virus.
It is not a human influenza virus,
and people cannot get it.
Can be spread to other dogs by
direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, by contact with
contaminated objects and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs.
Nearly all dogs are susceptible to
infection, but most will have a mild form of the disease.
Symptoms are cough, runny nose and
fever; a small proportion of dogs can develop severe disease, characterized by
the onset of pneumonia.
Testing to confirm flu virus
infection is done at veterinary centers. An approved vaccine is available.
Twenty confirmed cases of canine
influenza and 70 suspected cases have been recorded in San Antonio dogs within
the past 30 days, according to a local veterinarian.
The disease, also known as dog flu,
has also been reported in Austin and Dallas, said Dr. Michele Wright,
who helped identify the virus at a local clinic.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas is one of 38 states where dogs
have been exposed to the H3N8 virus.
The first San Antonio case originated
with two dogs that stopped at dog day care centers and parks, both community
sites where dogs could have contracted the disease, Wright said.
Symptoms include a fever, runny
nose and coughing, but some dogs infected with the virus do not show symptoms.
The virus is not transmitted to humans, cats or other species. Wright said dogs
shed, or transmit, the virus through secretions that expose it to
the environment.
“What's scary for me as a
veterinarian is they can act and look healthy and still be shedding the virus,”
Wright said.
Two tests can confirm the virus.
The vaccine is available at veterinarian offices.
According to the CDC,
the virus was first detected in 2004 in greyhounds. Scientists believe it
jumped species from horses to dogs and adapted to cause sickness and spread
among dogs.
Wright said because many local dogs
haven't been vaccinated, close to 100 percent would get the virus if exposed.
Twenty percent would transmit it but not appear sick. Seventy-two percent would
show mild symptoms of coughing that could linger for two to three weeks. And 8
percent could develop pneumonia that could be life threatening.
Animal Care Services director Gary Hendel said ACS has not confirmed any cases of canine influenza in
the shelter.
“It's a situation that bears
watching,” Hendel said. “Should that situation change, we will work with our
local veterinary community to identify solutions to prevent
widespread outbreak.”
Wright suggested that pet owners
vaccinate their dogs; limit visits to communal areas to prevent exposure; and
keep dogs away from contaminated areas for a month after immunization, to build
up immunity.
“I think if we can get people
vaccinating, we'll be able to contain the virus,” Wright said. “The hard thing
is getting people to vaccinate in areas that haven't seen it yet.”