Canine influenza: Prevention starts with a healthy immune system

Ask a holistic vet about herbs for immune support. 

Prevention is the best cure. With our pets, just as with us, prevention starts with a strong, healthy and well supported immune system. Recently there has been a lot of discussion about canine influenza. New York is one of the states that has seen a resurgence of the virus in some areas, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) website. In addition to your veterinarian, the AVMA is an excellent resource for pet health information. Check out their site if you would like more information on this canine health concern. There is a section on the home page entitled “Public Resources.” Follow that down to the section labeled “Public Health” and the first tab is influenza.

“As for all viral diseases,” according to the AVMA site, “treatment is largely supportive. Good husbandry and nutrition may assist dogs in mounting an effective immune response.” Since integrative veterinary medicine is so heavily focused health maintenance, from a holistic perspective, there may be even more we can do to support our dogs’ immune systems. Good husbandry (cleanliness, fresh water, appropriate exercise, a safe, comfortable environment) and high quality foods (that are not overly processed and do not contain additives and artificial preservatives) are paramount. Here are three more steps to consider:

Probiotics – You have probably heard about the benefits of probiotics for intestinal health. That is only part of the story. Intestinal health is actually a vital component of the overall immune system. Beware, not all probiotic products are the same. They differ in number of live microorganisms (the only way they are beneficial in a product), the number of different types of bacteria and the concentration per dose. So if you are interested in adding any intestinal health supplements to your pet’s diet, ask your vet for a recommendation.

Stress reduction – As pets become more and more like family members, many people find intense connections with our furry (or feathered, or scaly) friends. It has been long accepted that animals have exceptional intuition about human emotion. Now, we are starting to recognize an intuition of our own about our pets' needs – both physical and emotional. A common complaint veterinarians often hear is, “Something’s just not right, Doc. No coughing, sneezing or limping, but I know my pet and there’s just something off.” If you have concerns about fear, anxiety, phobias, stress or pain, investigate them with your veterinarian and address the issues to the extent you are able.

Daily multivitamin – Integrative veterinarian, Dr. Doug Knueven, author of The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog, lists a daily multivitamin as one of the supplements that may help every pet. If you are home cooking for your pet, depending on the recipe you are following, you may already be adding a multivitamin in with the food. If not, this is another instance where a discussion with your veterinarian is in order. Not only are there species specific vitamins available, there are products that are tailored to the age of the pet as well. Certainly, a senior dog has different vitamin and mineral needs than a kitten and if you are going to invest in daily supplementation, it is worth going with the most biologically appropriate choice.