Dog Flu Curbs Puppy Playtime

In the spring, dogs spend more time socializing outdoors or at dog-friendly locales. Over the past few years, the number of dog parks in the U.S. has actually increased by about 20%, indicating their growing popularity among pet parents. But places like dog parks, kennels and doggie day cares can be risky due to increased contact with other dogs.

Part of being a pet parent is caring about your pup’s health. This is especially important as cases of dog flu are being reported across the country. Thousands of cases of dog flu have been confirmed across the country in the last year, and the Dog Flu Prevention Week is being launched to recognize the anniversary of the discovery of the newest strain – H3N2 – which has been responsible for most of these cases.

“Dog flu is caused by a canine influenza virus and it is new to this country and that’s important because that means all our dogs have never seen this virus they have no natural immunity to it,” said Kathryn Primm, DVM, co-author of the Pet Parent's Guide to Infectious Disease of Dogs.

Dog flu is a year-round illness that can spread very easily, especially among social dogs. Unlike human flu, dog flu is not seasonal and can be contagious year-round.

Common Symptoms of Dog Flu

• High 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

High Risk Dogs Include:

• Dogs in poor condition and/or are debilitated
• Dogs currently exposed to other pathogens
• Very young or very old dogs

A dog can be infected for several days before any symptoms are present, and symptoms can last for several weeks in many cases. Infected dogs can also remain contagious for almost one month. Since dogs have no natural immunity against dog flu, almost all unvaccinated dogs that come in contact with the virus will become sick. "All dogs that are social and interact with other dogs are at risk for dog flu, but the good news is that dog flu is vaccine preventable," said Primm. "Dogs can be protected against both strains of dog flu with a single vaccine, which is given as two doses, two to four weeks apart."

Social dogs that are frequently in contact with other dogs at places like dog parks, doggie daycares, grooming facilities and boarding kennels are at an increased risk of dog flu and should be vaccinated on an annual basis to prevent illness or decrease the severity of symptoms if they do become sick.

“I’m here with Merck Animal Health to raise awareness of the canine influenza virus,” said Primm. “Not everyone knows this is a real virus and certainly not everyone knows how easy it is to prevent with the canine influenza vaccine.”

Pet parents can help stop the spread of dog flu by protecting their dogs every year with annual dog flu vaccinations and being aware of the signs and symptoms. A list of vets that carry the vaccine can be found on https://www.dogflu.com/

Kathryn Primm, DVM

Kathryn Primm, DVM is the owner and founder of Applebrook Animal Hospital in Ooltewah, Tennessee, the first veterinary facility in the U.S. certified as a Heroes for Healthy Pets facility.

Dr. Primm enjoys writing, speaking to and engaging veterinary professionals and pet lovers. She has written and contributed content to many outlets, including Woman’s Day, Prevention and Health as well as Veterinary Economics, dvm360, Firstline, Vetted and dvm360.com. Her regular "Ask A Vet" column is featured on iheartdogs.com and iheartcats.com, reaching more than 3 million viewers.

She and her dog, Skye, frequently hold pet therapy sessions at assisted living and mental health facilities around Chattanooga. Her first book, Tennessee Tails: Pets and Their People, received recognition as a runner-up in the "Memoirs" category at a national book festival. She is the co-author of Pet Parents’ Guide to Infectious Disease and is the host of two podcasts on PetLife Radio.

About Merck Animal Health

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, wellbeing and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter at @MerckAH.

Courtesy: Merck Animal Health

Photo Courtesy: David Shankbone CC-BY-SA-3.0 from Wikimedia Commons