This winter, dogs and their parents are both dealing with influenza outbreaks. On top of a new COVID resurgence, influenza has already been stressing hospital systems nationwide. And now, our four-legged friends are having an outbreak of their own. Writing for Forbes, Bruce Y. Lee reports on what’s going on, and how dog parents can watch out for their pups.
According to Lee, “a highly contagious H3N2 strain of the canine influenza virus” has been spreading in different areas throughout the country, including Texas and California. Along with cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) spiking among kids, this winter is shaping up to be a tough one for avoiding sickness.
What Is Canine Influenza?
Similar to the flu we’re all familiar with, canine influenza is an airborne pathogen that causes mild illness in dogs. Although a vaccine does exist, many dogs aren’t vaccinated and dogs in shelters or vet clinics are at a high risk of getting sick. As Lee puts it, “since dogs don’t tend to wear face masks or cough into their elbows, just one dog in a kennel or a doggie daycare center can quickly get many other dogs infected”.
Symptoms include fevers, “kennel cough”, and runny eyes and nose. Fortunately, most dogs make a quick recovery—around two or three weeks. However, severe cases can wreak havoc on our beloved canines. Infection with canine influenza carries a small risk of developing into pneumonia and can attract other bacterial infections.
Another important detail is that, according to the American Veterinary Association, about 20% of dogs with the flu don’t show any symptoms. This makes controlling outbreaks particularly hard.
Why Is the Dog Flu Spreading So Fast?
So why is dog flu such a big deal right now? Well, according to Lee, humans—no surprise there—are the culprit. After two grueling years of isolation, people have started traveling and going out in public again, and they’re bringing their dogs with them. Tied with all the new dogs people have acquired over the past couple of years, it’s not a shock that so many dogs are getting sick now.
Fortunately, as dog parents, we all know how best to mitigate diseases like canine influenza. Any dog showing symptoms should be isolated until they recover. Additionally, if you can, it doesn’t hurt to get your dog vaccinated. This is even more important for dogs that frequent dog parks or doggie daycares. By being proactive and attentive with our dogs, we can make sure they weather this winter in good health.
