Local dog owners have a lot of access to communal dog parks and doggy daycares within the city limits. What dog owners don’t always realize is that sharing a playground, while fun, can also be a potential health risk.
Since the fall of 2009, the number of reported cases of canine influenza virus (CIV) has been increasing in the state of Pennsylvania, and many local shelters and veterinary hospitals found themselves confronted with this highly contagious respiratory infection.
Just like people, influenza in canines causes flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge. Many pet owners are familiar with “kennel cough,” which is similar but likely won’t last as long nor lead to life-threatening pneumonia. Mortality rates for CIV range from 1-5 percent.
Canine influenza is caused by influenza A subtype H3N8, a virus similar to the strain that causes human influenza. Thankfully, canine influenza is not transmitted to humans or other animal species. Canine flu is not seasonal, but is active all year long. It was first discovered in 2004, when outbreaks of an upper-respiratory infection were reported in Greyhound kennels and racetracks. Since then, more and more dogs have been reported with canine influenza and, in May 2009, the USDA approved the first vaccine to protect dogs against CIV.
Philadelphia dog owners put their companions at risk every time they take their dog for a walk. Nose-to-nose encounters allow the influenza virus to pass readily from one dog to another. This is similar to the transmission of human influenza, where a simple handshake may come with a few uninvited virus particles. The virus does not last long in the natural environment but can be active for several hours in dried mucous.
Dogs that go to daycares or boarding facilities are at a higher risk, since they share the same environment for longer periods of time. Dogs that go to local dog parks and share communal water bowls are also at higher risk of contracting this contagious virus. Even dog owners can share the virus by touching an infected dog and then touching their own companion.
The simplest way to decrease transmission is to wash — with soap and water — anything that may have come into contact with an infected dog.
If your dog is exposed to a dog that has influenza, it is likely to show signs within five to eight days. They may appear lethargic, as most dogs respond to a virus with a fever. They may have a dry or soft and moist persistent cough that can last up to four weeks. They will usually have a yellow to green nasal discharge, indicating a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are typically recommended to resolve this infection. In severe cases, your dog may become anorexic and have difficulty breathing. In very rare situations, the nasal discharge contains blood, which indicates bleeding in the lungs that can lead to death. If your dog does develop pneumonia secondary to CIV, it will likely require hospitalization with IV antibiotics, oxygen support and radiographs.
As a Philadelphia dog owner, your pet’s best protection against canine influenza is to discuss vaccinating it against CIV with your veterinarian. The vaccine is readily available and consists of an initial dose followed two weeks later by a booster. The vaccine lasts for a year and allows your dog to have a significantly reduced severity and duration of illness if exposed to CIV. Dogs that normally go to boarding facilities, daycare and grooming salons and frequent Philadelphia’s parks and streets are all candidates for the vaccine. Don’t let your canine companion go outside without protection.
Dr. Claudia Casavecchia, owner of Society Hill Veterinary Hospital, is vice president of the Pennsylvania SPCA.