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Solid Gold has recently been running ads in dog
publications that suggest that canine influenza and avian influenza are the
same. These ads are causing unwarranted concern as the two forms of influenza
are not the same and do not affect the same species of animals.
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Canine
Influenza is an H3N8 form of the Influenza A virus most closely related to
Equine Influenza...
It may have circulated among the greyhound racing tracks for a number of
years.In 2004 there were severe cases
of "kennel cough" leading to death in some racing greyhounds.In 2005 work at Dr Cynda Crawford's
laboratory at the University of Florida, and virus isolation at Dr Ed Dubovi's
laboratory at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell enabled CDC(the Center for
Disease Control) to type the virus as Influenza A H3N8.This flu has entered the general dog
population. Since it a new pathogen for
dogs, there are no naturally occurring antibodies and all dogs may be
susceptible.
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Canine
influenza has caused outbreaks at greyhound tracks around the country, in some
animal shelters and boarding kennels, and some doggy daycare facilities. The Animal Health Diagnostic Center at
Cornell has documented positive samples from 18 states - but since other
diagnostic laboratories now have the ability to test for antibodies - we do not
know entire range of the outbreak. There
are close to 100% infection rates where exposure has occurred, but only a very low mortality rate (less than
5 %.) Mortality is associated with severe, rapid, hemorrhagic pneumonia. Intensive care, including antibiotic
treatment to prevent secondary infections, has enabled some severely ill dogs
to recover.
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DO NOT PANIC or assume that all "kennel cough"
outbreaks are canine flu. "Kennel cough" from
parainfluenza, Bordetella, or mycoplasma, is more common. All cases of "kennel cough" are highly
contagious. At this time there is no
vaccine for the canine flu. Antibody
tests now show that canine flu is fairly widespread across the US. Dogs that are ill SHOULD NOT be brought to
shows, classes, boarding kennels, daycare, or dog parks. As with human influenza, good infection
control measures such as isolation and hand washing, may limit the spread
between dogs. There are no known cases
of either Equine Influenza or Canine Influenza infecting humans.
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Canine
flu is an H3N8 form of Influenza A and is not the H5N1 Avian flu. There are no
reported cases of dogs contracting Avian Influenza. In Asia, dogs routinely scavenge dead poultry
and livestock and we suspect that unusual deaths would be noticed. (Avian
Influenza has been found in felines.) To date the human infections with the
H5N1 type of Avian Influenza have not been proven to be transmitted from person
to person. Wild birds are the natural reservoir for Influenza A types. The rapid spread of the severe form of Avian
Influenza has health professionals around the world tracking the spread of the
disease. In the US, live bird markets as
well as poultry facilities are constantly monitored for infectious diseases
including Avian Influenza which has not been found in North America. If Avian flu is found in our country there is valid concern
about the risk to humans but there is no evidence that it can be contracted by
dogs, either directly or through ingestion of poultry meat.
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