[Snow Yorkies]

Canine Flu Kills Dogs

Sept. 2005 - A new, highly contagious, sometimes deadly, mutated influenza strain canine flu is striking kennels and dog tracks. It is said to be from a virus that affects horses and has been found in over seven states so far, in private kennels and pet shops. It has spread rapidly through the racing greyhound population, no doubt because of the exposure to dogs from other areas when they are kenneled and run on the tracks.

Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine says it can be passed by casual contact between dogs or people who have handled infected dogs. Fatality rate is unclear at this point but could be as high as 10%. Dr. Crawford investigated greyhound deaths at a racetrack in Jacksonville, Fla., in January 2004, where eight of the 24 greyhounds who contracted the virus died. "This is a newly emerging pathogen, and we have very little information to make predictions about it," she said.

It is said that dogs have no natural immunity to the virus, therefore virtually every animal exposed will be infected and about 80% will develop symptoms which can be mistaken for "kennel cough." Coughing and gagging may last for up to three weeks but those with canine flu may run up to 106 degree temps and have runny noses. The risk is that it may go into pneumonia, which can be fatal. Crawford said antibiotics and fluid cut the pneumonia fatality rate.

No, there isn’t a vaccine for the canine flu yet but Dr. Donis says “one would be relatively easy to develop because a vaccine that prevents the related horse flu exists.”

Don’t rush to vaccinate! It is said that the Lyme Disease vaccine predated any documented case of the disease in the canine….

Sept 24th Here's another take on it as published in the NY Times but with our Editorial Emphasis to show our prediction coming true. Note what Dr. Donis says about how dangerous it is - not!

"The hysteria out there is unbelievable, and the misinformation is incredible," said Dr. Ann E. Hohenhaus, chief of medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York.

Dr. Hohenhaus said she had heard of an alert from a Virginia dog club reporting rumors that 10,000 show dogs had died. "We don't believe that's true," she said, adding that no dogs in her Manhattan hospital even had coughs. Dr. Donis of the disease control centers said that there was currently no vaccine for the canine flu. But he said one would be relatively easy to develop. The canine flu is less lethal than parvovirus, which typically kills puppies but can be prevented by routine vaccination.

Laboratory tests, Dr. Donis said, have shown that the new flu is susceptible to the two most common antiviral drugs, amantidine and Tamiflu, but those drugs are not licensed for use in dogs.

The flu has killed greyhounds at tracks in Florida, Massachusetts, Arizona, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas and Iowa. Tracks and kennels have been forced to shut down for weeks for disinfection.


Some More Information I thought I would share with everyone. This is really scarey and I hope they come up with something SOON. Sorry it is so long, but good info. for everyone.