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Dog Flu Symptoms

Dog flu or Canine influenza is a relatively new influenza strain which was reported for the first time in January 2004 at a Florida greyhound track.

The virus was first identified in the pet population in spring 2005, when the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine isolated and identified a strain of the influenza virus as a cause of a serious respiratory illness in dogs in shelters, humane societies, boarding facilities, and veterinary hospitals in that state.

This particular virus, belonging to the influenza A family, is a mutated strain of an equine influenza virus that has been detected in horses for over 40 years. This specific strain of influenza is not known to infect humans or poultry. Dog flu is a new, contagious respiratory disease that may mirror signs of kennel cough, including sneezing, coughing, and fever and it requires veterinary medical attention. Nearly 100 percent of dogs that come in contact with the virus become infected, regardless of age or vaccination history. Of those infected, 20 percent show no signs of disease.

In case of mild infection the symptoms include a low-grade fever, nasal discharge, and a persistent cough that could last up to three weeks. If the infection is severe then it could result in symptoms like high fever, increased respiratory rates with difficulty breathing, and other indications of pneumonia. Because this virus is new to dogs, most dogs will not have a natural immunity to the influenza.

Dog flu is thought to be a mainly airborne virus, most likely transmitted by an infected dog sneezing or coughing on another. Symptoms of the flu generally appear two to five days after a dog is exposed to the virus. Infected dogs have the ability to spread the virus for seven to ten days from the onset of symptoms. Just similar to the case of human influenza, this virus can be spread through direct contact with a contaminated surface. Infected dogs may not exhibit signs of infection, but are still able to spread the virus. Although researchers are working on a vaccine to prevent dog influenza as not a single one exists at this point of time.