Health officials say up to 90 dogs may have been affected. The illness, which features symptoms including runny nose, cough and fever, is typically mild. At first, a common dog ailment known as kennel cough was suspected.
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“Every dog that coughs doesn’t have canine influenza, but dogs with canine influenza cough”, Remer said. Two have tested positive for flu, but further tests are needed to confirm it’s the new strain. Health officials say test results are pending for the sick dogs.
“We have a lot of dogs that come here”.
Bret Gagliardi, who started Holiday Kennels 22 years ago, said he has never experienced an outbreak like this before.
“It spreads so easily and because it’s a novel virus, there’s no immunity”, noted American Veterinary Medical Association spokesman Michael San Filippo. A few other dog owners expressed surprise and concern over the new strain.
Around 2,000 dogs in 24 states have been infected to date.
The new strain has been a problem in other parts of the country.
So far the newest strain of the flu hasn’t reached Maryland.
There is a vaccine, which Remer compares to a human flu shot, but it doesn’t prevent a dog from getting the virus; it just makes it less harmful. Puppies and older dogs are the most vulnerable.
This dog flu strain is similar to previous ones, but vets aren’t sure why it has surfaced now.
Nearly all dogs are susceptible to canine flu infection, and illness tends to spread among dogs housed in kennels and shelters.
“There’s a big blast that went out to all the veterinarians in this area so we are aware”, says Dr. Beth Davidow of Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in North Seattle.
In a Facebook post, Public Health described the symptoms of K9 influenza. Dog flu is a disease of dogs.
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Dog owners say they do wish it were easier to keep tabs on which dog has been where, when and with whom. These are called “canine influenza viruses”. Although the majority of cases are in Washington State, dog flu has the potential to become more widespread if left unchecked.
