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Canine Flu......Contagious Dog Flu VirusThis virus started in racing greyhound kennels and on the track circuit. It is spreading and appears to be not only in the USA but also in Canada. Currently, there is no vaccine available. Symptoms may be initially compared to kennel cough. However, this canine flu is different in that: The dog's WBC (white blood cell count) is very HIGH - this is not true with kennel cough. The dog will progress from a fever to a very high temperature - - often within 12-24 hours. Low grade fevers are seen in kennel cough. If your dog refuses to eat and develops a cough, see a veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. This disease does respond to supportive treatment and medication in MOST cases, although a fatality rate of 5-10% is also being reported. Tamiflu - - a human anti-viral drug has been used by some veterinarian with great success. It is not FDA approved for canine flu, fyi. About 20% of the dogs that contract this canine viral infection will not act sick. However, they are able to pass it on to other dogs, as they will "shed" the virus. This new canine flu is HIGHLY contagious. It can be passed from dog to dog and humans to dogs. You can walk through an area when a non-symptomatic dog has been and carry the virus home to your dogs. Until a specific vaccination is developed, we are all at risk for spreading this disease. Use precautions akin to those for PARVO (see article) If your dog is ill, have it vetted. Avoid going to shelters, dog parks and other areas where a great number of strange dogs interact. If you know of a dog that has had this disease, ask the owner to report it to the proper public health authorities in your area and to keep the dog away from other dogs, as it may shed the virus long after it is feeling fine. The above information was compiled by: Shirley Greene jeff6542@aol.com on 10-10-05
Canine Influenza, also called Canine Flu, is a newly identified disease of dogs. It can infect any breed of dog and appears in dogs to be similar to Canine Cough (also Currently there seems to be as much hysteria and misinformation about this emerging infection in dogs as hard scientific evidence. Rumors of hundreds of dogs being affected in kennels across the country are unsubstantiated. The best source of information about your local area regarding the facts about Canine Influenza will be your local veterinarian and your state's veterinary medical association. The information presented on this page is meant to be strictly that... an update on recent information. Your veterinarian must be consulted for proper diagnosis, patient evaluation, and individualized therapy for any disease or disorder your dog may have acquired. There are a multitude of disorders and diseases that will cause a dog to cough and gag and hack. That's why individual assessment for your dog is imperative to discern the true cause of the dog's difficulties. How Is It Spread: According to immunologist Dr. Cynda Crawford who is studying the virus at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, it spreads most easily where numbers of dogs are kept in close proximity but could also be passed "on the street" or in kennels. It has been reported that kennel workers have carried the virus home with them and infected other dogs. The fatality rate seems to be between 1 and 10 percent. Since it is such a new disease of dogs is difficult to forecast about the spread of the disease, severity in individual dogs, and what future numbers of cases may be seen . Dr. Crawford indicates about 80 percent of dogs that are exposed to the canine influenza virus will develop some signs of illness. Because the dog population has such little natural immunity to this virus, potentially every dog exposed could be infected. Dr. Crawford first began investigating greyhound deaths in January 2004 at a racetrack in Jacksonville, Fla., where 8 of the 24 greyhounds who contracted the virus died. "This is a newly emerging pathogen," she said, "and we have very little information to make predictions about it. But I think the fatality rate is between 1 and 10 percent. Because dogs had no natural immunity to the virus, virtually every animal exposed would be infected. About 80 percent of dogs that are infected with the virus will develop symptoms", Dr. Crawford said. She added that the symptoms were often mistaken for "kennel cough," a common canine illness that is caused by the bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. Both diseases can cause coughing and gagging for up to three weeks, but dogs with canine flu may spike fevers as high as 106 degrees and have runny noses. A few will develop pneumonia, and some of those cases will be fatal. Antibiotics and fluid cut the pneumonia fatality rate. The virus is an H3N8 flu which is related to an equine flu strain, however, it is not related to typical human flus or to the H5N1 avian flu that killed about 100 people in Asia. ESo far there are no known cases of the canine flu infecting humans. "The risk of that is low, but we are keeping an eye on it," said Dr. Ruben Donis, chief of molecular genetics for the influenza branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is tracking the illness. But with the approach of the human flu season and fears about bird flu in Asia, there is much confusion among some dog owners who have heard about the disease. Dr. Crawford said she was fielding calls from kennels and veterinarians across the country worried that they were having outbreaks. Signs Of Canine Influenza: The signs in an infected dog are similar to Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterial infection commonly called Kennel Cough, Canine Cough and Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis. Coughing and gagging for up to three weeks is seen in Canine Cough and in the newly emerging canine disease Canine Influenza. Treatment For Canine Influenza: Keep in mind that viruses are not usually affected by antibiotics used against bacterial infections. Antiviral drugs such as amantidine and Tamiflu have been used but are not licensed for use in dogs... the information base on the success of antiviral therapy is still small. Antibiotics for both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms may be needed due to secondary invasion of damaged lung tissues from opportunistic bacteria. Fluid therapy for debilitated dogs could be required to give support to these patients while their own bodies create defensive immune factors to assist in warding off the infection. Older dogs and young puppies may be at greatest risk for treatment failure. X-rays may be needed to evaluate the severity of pneumonia. In spite of vigorous in-hospital therapy, some dogs simply will not respond and will succumb to the disease. Tests For Canine Influenza: _____________________________________________________________ ID issues warning - - some good information in this piece: Dog owners warned to be on the lookout for flu in their pets 11:52 AM MDT on Tuesday, October 4, 2005
BOISE -- A warning to dog owners: there's a new disease and vets warn it is on its way to Idaho.  KTVB A sometimes-deadly flu in dogs is spreading fast around the U.S. and veterinarians say you should know the signs to keep your pets safe. The dog flu has affected animals in eight states, including Oregon. “I think any place where there's a number of animals, you're very concerned about something coming in that's contagious,” said kennel owner Mona Allison. The staff at Gem Crest Kennels in Boise is keeping a close eye out for the dog flu. Allison says she's had some clients ask about the new fast-spreading virus. But Allison is doing what she can; keeping things clean. “I think the best thing we can do is what we're already doing, which is being very careful about disinfecting keeping the rugs clean, keeping all the animals in good health, making sure every dog who comes here is vaccinated,” she said. “This appears to be a virus that's going to be very difficult to prevent and control its spread,” said Jeff Rosenthal, Idaho Humane Society Director. Rosenthal says dog owners should be aware of the symptoms: coughing, gagging, high fever and sometimes pneumonia. According to veterinarians, the respiratory disease first showed up last year, jumping from horses to dogs. Rosenthal says there's no vaccine right now. “Realize that the majority of dogs are going to survive this. Most effects will be mild and there is some treatment for this. This has been shown to be susceptible to anti-viral drugs,” he said. Video Clip Researchers report that between one and ten percent of dogs which contract the disease, will die from it. The Humane Society is monitoring its pets for the virus and Rosenthal it's also important for dog owners to be alert. “Not to panic, but to be aware,” he said. “If their dog develops any of these symptoms, they need to call their veterinarian.” Vets say the disease can be spread by dogs in kennels, dog runs or by handlers. Rosenthal says 80 percent of infected dogs will show signs of sickness, 20 percent will not, but they can still spread the virus. Right now, researchers at the Cornell University Animal Clinic say there has been no evidence of the virus showing up in humans.
And last: Tamiflu TAMIFLU Scientist Recommends Isolation for Animals Showing Signs of Canine Flu
The scientist, Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and an author of a report on the canine influenza being released today by the journal Science, spoke at a news conference sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The C.D.C., which is tracking the disease, issued no official recommendations. But Dr. Crawford urged pet owners to continue to walk healthy dogs, visit dog runs, use boarding kennels and otherwise let animals congregate. But, Dr. Crawford added, owners should ''use common sense,'' including isolating dogs with any symptoms of respiratory disease for up to two weeks and alerting a veterinarian's office before taking in a sick dog for treatment. Dr. Crawford, who was joined at the news conference by scientists at the C.D.C. and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine who are studying the virus, said the flu seemed to kill 5 to 8 percent of the dogs it infected. But she emphasized that scientists did not ''have all the answers'' on fatality rates because the influenza strain was new and because it was hard to get accurate information about dog deaths. Last week, Dr. Crawford estimated the fatality rate at 1 to 10 percent. In the first outbreak she studied, at a greyhound track last year in Jacksonville, Fla., the flu killed about a third of the dogs with symptoms. But she said basing estimates on a single outbreak left ''a false impression.'' The flu initially mimics ''kennel cough,'' a common disease usually caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacterium related to the one that causes whooping cough in children. About 80 percent of infected dogs develop a cough, nasal discharge and possibly a fever; a smaller number go on to develop pneumonia. The 20 percent of dogs with no symptoms are presumed to be contagious, Dr. Crawford said. Dr. Ruben Donis, chief of molecular genetics for the influenza branch of the disease control agency, said the flu had jumped from horses to dogs, ''a very rare event of considerable scientific interest.'' But, Dr. Donis said, ''at this point, there is no reason to panic.'' Although there has been speculation that the influenza could now jump to humans because dogs live more intimately with them than horses do, the H3N8 strain has been found in horses for over 40 years without ever causing a documented human case, he said. A vaccine for the canine flu is under development, he said; a vaccine for the equine version already exists. It is unclear how widespread the disease is in pets around the country. The first outbreaks in kennels not connected to greyhound tracks were found in April, and cases among pets have been confirmed only in Florida, New York and Massachusetts. Dr. Edward J. Dubovi, chief virologist in Cornell's diagnostic laboratory in Ithaca, said he was testing samples from veterinarians in many states. New Deadly, Contagious Dog Flu Virus Is Detected in 7 States ____________________________________________________________ CDC Briefing on K9 flu:
Or, you may listen to a National Public Radio Program on Canine Flu: Click here: NPR : Influenza Virus Jumps to Dogs
____________________________________________________________ By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. and CARIN RUBENSTEINA new, highly contagious and sometimes deadly canine flu is spreading in kennels and at dog tracks around the country, veterinarians said yesterday. The virus, which scientists say mutated from an influenza strain that affects horses, has killed racing greyhounds in seven states and has been found in shelters and pet shops in many places, including the New York suburbs, though the extent of its spread is unknown. Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine who is studying the virus, said that it spread most easily where dogs were housed together but that it could also be passed on the street, in dog runs or even by a human transferring it from one dog to another. Kennel workers have carried the virus home with them, she said. How many dogs die from the virus is unclear, but scientists said the fatality rate is more than 1 percent and could be as high as 10 percent among puppies and older dogs. Dr. Crawford first began investigating greyhound deaths in January 2004 at a racetrack in Jacksonville, Fla., where 8 of the 24 greyhounds who contracted the virus died. "This is a newly emerging pathogen," she said, "and we have very little information to make predictions about it. But I think the fatality rate is between 1 and 10 percent." She added that because dogs had no natural immunity to the virus, virtually every animal exposed would be infected. About 80 percent of dogs that are infected with the virus will develop symptoms, Dr. Crawford said. She added that the symptoms were often mistaken for "kennel cough," a common canine illness that is caused by the bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. Both diseases can cause coughing and gagging for up to three weeks, but dogs with canine flu may spike fevers as high as 106 degrees and have runny noses. A few will develop pneumonia, and some of those cases will be fatal. Antibiotics and fluid cut the pneumonia fatality rate, Dr. Crawford said. The virus is an H3N8 flu closely related to an equine flu strain. It is not related to typical human flus or to the H5N1 avian flu that has killed about 100 people in Asia. Experts said there were no known cases of the canine flu infecting humans. "The risk of that is low, but we are keeping an eye on it," said Dr. Ruben Donis, chief of molecular genetics for the influenza branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is tracking the illness. But with the approach of the human flu season and fears about bird flu in Asia, there is much confusion among some dog owners who have heard about the disease. Dr. Crawford said she was fielding calls from kennels and veterinarians across the country worried that they were having outbreaks. "The hysteria out there is unbelievable, and the misinformation is incredible," said Dr. Ann E. Hohenhaus, chief of medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York. Dr. Hohenhaus said she had heard of an alert from a Virginia dog club reporting rumors that 10,000 show dogs had died. "We don't believe that's true," she said, adding that no dogs in her Manhattan hospital even had coughs. Dr. Donis of the disease control centers said that there was currently no vaccine for the canine flu. But he said one would be relatively easy to develop. The canine flu is less lethal than parvovirus, which typically kills puppies but can be prevented by routine vaccination. Laboratory tests, Dr. Donis said, have shown that the new flu is susceptible to the two most common antiviral drugs, amantidine and Tamiflu, but those drugs are not licensed for use in dogs. The flu has killed greyhounds at tracks in Florida, Massachusetts, Arizona, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas and Iowa. Tracks and kennels have been forced to shut down for weeks for disinfection. In Chestnut Ridge, north of New York City, about 88 dogs became sick by early September, and 15 percent of those required hospitalization, said Debra Bennetts, a spokeswoman for Best Friends Pet Care, a chain of boarding kennels. The kennel was vacated for decontamination by Sept. 17. About 17 of the infected dogs were treated at the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, N.J., where one died and two more were still hospitalized, a staff veterinarian said. The Best Friends chain owns 41 other kennels in 18 states, and no others have had an outbreak, Dr. Larry J. Nieman, the company's veterinarian, said. In late July, at Gracelane Kennels in Ossining, N.Y., about 35 dogs showed symptoms, said the owner, Bob Gatti, and he closed the kennel for three weeks to disinfect. About 25 of the dogs were treated by an Ossining veterinarian, Glenn M. Zeitz, who said two of them had died. "The dogs came in very sick, with high fevers and very high white blood cell counts," Dr. Zeitz said, making him suspicious that they had something worse than kennel cough. A spokesman for the New York City Health Department said that there were "a few confirmed cases" in New York but that the city was not yet tracking the disease. Veterinarians voluntarily sent samples to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine, which was the only laboratory doing blood tests. Another source, Urban Legends, had this to say:
Origins: In 2004, a virulent form of canine influenza surfaced at greyhound racing parks in Florida. In that outbreak, it infected Dr. Crawford describes the contagion as producing in dogs "a moist, productive cough that ends in a gagging response, that will persist for one to four weeks, despite treatment with antibiotics or cough suppressants. Some dogs develop a thick, yellow discharge from the nose. A very few dogs will spike a high fever, between Presence of the virus in dogs can be confirmed only through blood tests performed at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Results of such blood screens take as long as two weeks. Dr. Crawford recommends keeping dogs showing symptoms of respiratory disease at home and away from other dogs for up to two weeks. The CDC, which is tracking the disease, issued no official recommendations. Because the symptoms of this as yet unnamed virus somewhat mimic bordetella, a less virulent illness commonly known as kennel cough, it is hard to ascertain how widespread the flu has become. On the flipside of that confusion, vets in various parts of the country have been thrown into a panic when encountering run-of-the-mill kennel cough in any of their clients, fearing they are instead confronting cases of the new flu. The Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University inserted a caution against such hair trigger diagnosis within a larger advisory about the potential for the flu to have spread to the state of New York: "One should not lose sight of the fact that all respiratory infections in dogs are not due to canine influenza virus. Adhering to the 'band wagon' approach could result in the failure to appropriately treat dogs with infections previously known to cause respiratory problems in dogs." We found this good advice for vets and dog owners in our inbox one day: PLEASE DO NOT PANIC, and do NOT assume that every cough is Canine Influenza. Kennel Cough from parainfluenza and Bordetella is more common. However, the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell is interested in receiving samples from dogs that appear to have kennel cough. Clinical Signs: Since this is a new pathogen in dogs, there is currently no natural immunity present in the unexposed canine population. Almost all exposed dogs will become infected, and nearly 80% have clinical signs. In the mild form the dogs will have a cough that persists for In the severe form with pneumonia there is a high fever The incubation period is two to five days and dogs may shed virus for seven to Additional information:
Last updated: 27 September 2005 The mortality rate is around 5 to 8 percent, says veterinarian Cynda Crawford at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville. "I want to stress that despite the rumors that are out on the Internet and other such sources, this disease is not as deadly as people want to make it," Crawford said. She says she receives more than UPDATE: 10 October 2005 What States/areas have high outbreaks of canine flu? Currently reports of outbreaks have been scientifically confirmed in: Nevada Florida Massachusetts Oregon New York Texas – Dallas area worse Washington New Jersey Arkansas Arizona Ohio Iowa Colorado North Carolina Rhode Island Kansas West Virginia Maryland Connecticut Calfornia Utah Georgia Wash. D.C. Pennsylvania What is canine influenza? Two clinical syndromes have been seen in dogs infected with the canine influenza virus—a mild form of the disease and a more severe form that is accompanied by pneumonia. Because this is a newly emerging disease, almost all dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to infection and have no immunity. Virtually all dogs that are exposed to the virus become infected and nearly 80% show clinical signs of disease. Fortunately, most affected dogs have the mild form. Do dogs die from canine influenza? How widespread is the disease? How is a dog with canine influenza treated? Is canine influenza virus transmissible from dogs to humans? Do I need to be concerned about putting my dog in day care or boarding it at a kennel? As long as good infection control practices are in place, pet owners should not be overly concerned about putting dogs in training facilities, dog parks, kennels, or other areas frequented by dogs. My dog has a cough...what should I do? Canine influenza virus can be spread via direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, and by contact with contaminated inanimate objects. Therefore, dog owners whose dogs are coughing or exhibiting other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to them. Clothing, equipment, surfaces, and hands should be cleaned and disinfected after exposure to dogs showing signs of respiratory disease to prevent transmission of infection to susceptible dogs. Clothing can be adequately cleaned by using a detergent at normal laundry temperatures. I manage a kennel/veterinary clinic/animal shelter/dog day care center. How do I keep canine influenza out of my facility, and if it does enter my facility, what should I do? Routine infection control precautions are key to preventing spread of viral disease within facilities. The canine influenza virus appears to be easily killed by disinfectants (e.g., quaternary ammonium compounds and bleach solutions at a 1 to 30 dilution) in common use in veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, and animal shelters. Protocols should be established for thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting cages, bowls, and other surfaces between uses. Employees should wash their hands with soap and water (or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are unavailable) before and after handling each dog; after coming into contact with a dog's saliva, urine, feces, or blood; after cleaning cages; and upon arriving at and before leaving the facility (see "I work in a kennel/animal care facility. What should I do to prevent transmission of influenza virus from infected dogs to susceptible dogs?"). Animal care facility staff should be alerted to the possibility that a dog with a respiratory infection could be presented for care or boarding. If a dog with respiratory signs is presented, staff members should inquire whether the dog has recently been boarded or adopted from a shelter, has recently participated in dog-related group activities, or whether it has been exposed to other dogs known to have canine influenza or kennel cough. The dog should be brought directly into a separate examination/triage area that is reserved for dogs with respiratory signs and should not be allowed to enter the waiting room or other areas where susceptible dogs may be present. Dogs with suspected canine influenza virus infection that is discovered after entry into the facility should be evaluated and treated by a veterinarian. Isolation protocols should be rigorously applied for dogs showing signs of respiratory disease, including the wearing of disposable gloves by persons handling infected dogs or cleaning contaminated cages. Respiratory disease beyond what is considered typical for a particular facility should be investigated, and the investigation should include submission of appropriate diagnostic samples (see "What diagnostic tests will tell me whether a dog has canine influenza?"). What diagnostic tests will tell me whether a dog has canine influenza? What samples do I send? Where do I send the samples? How do I distinguish between canine influenza and kennel cough? Other diagnostic options applicable to dogs that have died from pneumonia are viral culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, using fresh (not formalin-preserved or frozen) lung and tracheal tissues. Virus detection in respiratory secretion specimens from acutely ill animals using these methods is possible but generally unrewarding. The Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center is currently accepting samples for analysis. For detailed information on sample submission, visit www.diaglab.vet.cornell.edu/issues/civ.asp. I work in a kennel/animal care facility. What should I do to prevent transmission of influenza virus from infected dogs to susceptible dogs? Is canine influenza transmissible to from dogs to horses or other animal species? For additional information and updates, please visit these websites: Association of Shelter Veterinarians - www.sheltervet.org |
confirmed in seven states, having killed greyhounds at tracks in Florida, Massachusetts, Arizona, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas and Iowa. It is highly contagious, with the uninfected picking it up from the infected via shared items or human contact (kennel workers have carried the virus home with them), in addition to dog-to-dog encounters. 