CANINE INFLUENZA:  What Everyone Needs To Know
 

Since our last update, we have continued to see many more dogs exhibiting upper respiratory symptoms - and lab results of the patients tested came back positive for H3N2 - the newer canine influenza strain.   H3N2 is the same strain that affected many dogs in the Midwest earlier this year.  There is no vaccine to protect dogs against this highly contagious illness and it is now spreading in the Atlanta/Decatur area.  Most of the patients we have been seeing had been to local boarding and day care facilities.  It is very important for dog owners to be aware of how easily canine influenza can spread to other dogs, in order to take the necessary precautions to prevent your own dog from exposure.  It is also extremely important for dog owners who have a dog that is exhibiting any of the symptoms, to do what is necessary to prevent infecting other dogs - and ultimately spreading the illness further.   And you should know that even if your dog is not exhibiting symptoms, but has been exposed to a symptomatic dog - you still need to keep your dog quarantined at home - because the first 24-48 hours after exposure is when dogs are most contagious to other dogs.  This is how easily the virus is transmitted to other dogs:

• It is airborne, therefore your dog is susceptible just by being in the same vicinity of an infected dog. 
• It is transmitted through direct contact with another do- including eating or drinking from the same bowl. 
• Though H3N2 virus is not transmissible to humans - humans can pass the virus from one dog to another.  The virus can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours - this includes clothing.