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All That You Wanted to Know About Canine Flu

By Tess Thompson

Canine flu is a viral infection caused by different varieties of the influenza virus A, a viral agent known to cause equine flu. The most common of these viruses is the equine influenza virus H3N8. In fact, the first instance of canine flu occurred in the horserace tracks of Florida, where greyhounds were also raced and therefore exposed to the virus.

Although canine influenza virus has been tested positive in dogs earlier, it was only in 2004 that it was discovered that the virus could also cause influenza in dogs. The virus affects the canine respiratory system and causes this highly contagious disease that can pass on from one dog to another. The disease can be transmitted even by dogs that do not show any visible signs of the disease. Transmission rates are extremely high because dogs do not have a natural immunity towards the disease, since the exposure to this disease has been very low.

Transmission of the infection occurs mainly in kennels, dog parks and day care centers, from an infected dog to a healthy dog. Respiratory problems including a discharge from the infected dog nose, are primary symptoms. The virus is passed on through these secretions.

The dog respiratory system is prone to contract various diseases. Symptoms of canine flu tend to mimic the symptoms of other respiratory conditions like kennel cough and canine colds. Despite being self- limiting in nature, dog respiratory problems should not be ignored because the risk of progression always exists. One of the conditions that canine flu can potentially progress to is pneumonia, which can be fatal if timely treatment is not provided.

There are certain tests for confirming infection by the canine influenza virus. These tests do not help much, since the course of treatment does not change at all even when influenza is confirmed. There is no known drug that can reduce the duration of the infection, and dogs usually recover fully within a few weeks without medication. Medication, if any, is prescribed only to take care of the risk of a secondary infection and to provide symptomatic relief.

Although feline upper respiratory infections are quite common, canine influenza virus is not known to infect cats. Equine flu virus has been around for nearly forty years now, and the canine influenza virus is related to it. There is no documented history of the virus affecting humans nor is it expected to in the near future. It is also different from avian influenza or bird flu that is known to be fatal for birds and humans.

References:

http://heartspring.net/dog_flu_symptoms.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_influenza