Most dog people have heard of the scary outbreak of Canine Influenza in and around Chicago last March. It was a challenge because there was not much beyond supportive care for treatment and the only means of prevention was trying to avoid taking dogs to areas where other dogs would be, such as dog parks and boarding kennels. Some dogs died and over 1,000 were reported ill. Now infected dogs have begun to be identified in the Western US, places like Seattle and Montana.
Before last year the cases of Canine Influenza (CI) had been caused by the H3N8 strain which was the strain protected for by the older vaccine, but the 2015 outbreak was found to be caused by a new strain (H3N2) not previously found in the US. In November, a new vaccine for the appropriate strain has been released on a conditional license. It is now widely available at most veterinary hospitals and many boarding environments are requiring its use.
It is critical to be aware that CI is not the same as Kennel Cough for which we already had a vaccine. Make sure your dog is current on his Kennel Cough vaccine and his Canine Influenza vaccine, if he is ever in situations where he could be exposed to other dogs. The most severe and life threatening cases of CI were complicated by other infections and pneumonia, so make sure your dog is current on all of his routine vaccines in addition to influenza.
Most cases of CI have been mild, but as with any infectious agent, it is smart to be careful. If your dog seems ill, especially if he is coughing, it is important to see your vet. It is always advisable to make sure that your healthy dog is current on his vaccines according to your veterinarian’s protocols. It is far better to be safe than sorry.
