Canine Influenza- can dog flu infect your pooch?

May 5, 2:50 PMPet Care ExaminerPatrick Mahaney

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The outbreak of swine flu (H1N1) virus infecting humans has prompted the veterinary community to discuss influenza viruses affecting people, swine, and companion animals, including dogs.

Dogs can be infected by multiple viruses through the respiratory tract, including Canine Influenza Virus. Canine Influenza is caused by an Influenza Type A virus, which is genetically related to Equine Influenza virus. Both viruses are of the family Orthomyxoviridae. This relation created the speculation that the virus jumped species from equine to canine. Canine Influenza was first isolated in Florida racing Greyhounds in 2004 and has been reported in virtually all states in the US. In 2007, Canine Influenza virus caused an outbreak of mild symptoms in 20 dogs at a San Gabriel Valley (Los Angeles county, California) veterinary hospital.

Canine Influenza can cause mild or severe signs that can mimic those causes by the H1N1. Canine Influenza is part of group of potentially infectious organisms, including the bacteria and other viruses, contributing to Infectious Trachobronchitis (ITB). Viral organisms, including Canine Distemper Virus (CAV-2) and Canine Parainfluenza Virus (CPiV), typically are the initial invaders of the respiratory tract creating susceptibility to secondary invading bacterial organisms. Bacterial organisms include, but are not limited to, Boradatella bronchiseptica (aka Kennel Cough) and Mycoplasma sp. Studies do show Bordatella’s capability to be the primary invading organism.

Canine Influenza and Parainfluenza are classified in different families of viruses, with Influenza being Orthomyxoviridae and Parainfluenza being Paramyxoviridae. Dogs can be vaccinated for Canine Parainfluenza and Distemper Viruses as part of a “DHPP” or “DA2PP” combination injectable vaccination and for Bordatella as an injectable or intranasal vaccination. There currently is no vaccination available for Canine Influenza.

Please be aware of signs of upper respiratory tract disease in your dog. Be concerned for your dog’s health and seek further evaluation from a veterinarian should your dog have the following clinical signs:

Ocular or Nasal discharge- clear or mucus
Cough- productive/moist cough or non-productive/dry cough
Increase respiratory effort or other labored breathing
Lethargy
Decreased appetite
Vomiting

Considering the international concern for the H1N1 virus having the jumped species from pigs to people, canine owners may be concerned about transmission of the disease from pigs to dogs (or even worse, from dogs to dogs or dogs to people). As H1N1 is a hybrid of swine and human viruses, veterinary infectious disease experts are not currently concerned about the possible transmission to dogs.

For information about other diseases and animal health issues, please see:

Swine Flu- can H1N1 infect your canine?

Felines of Phi Phi Island (Thailand)

Rabies infected dog enters NJ via Iraq

Strychnine poisoning used as population control for Iraqi street canines

What canine condition killed Marley of Marley & Me?

Katy Perry got pissed on by a chimp and "did not like it"

Update- Katy Perry's possible zoonotic disease exposure via chimp urine

Life of the Thai beach dog

Singapore requires certain dog breeds to be muzzled

Photo credit: http://sneezefurs.org/art

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