Paws and Reflect
November 2009

In This Issue:
Canine Flu (H3N8)

Holiday Special: Have your pets standing tall for the holiday season. Baths reduced by 50% for the rest of November and all of December! Schedule your pet’s bath today at (515) 727-5757.

By now some of you or your children have been vaccinated for the H1N1 or swine flu vaccine, or at least you are aware of it. There have been 25–30 deaths in the state of Iowa from this virus so far.

Not to be outdone, dogs have a new virus referred to as H3N8. This is a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs that was first discovered in 2004 primarily in racing greyhounds in Florida. Currently H3N8 has been diagnosed in over 30 states and continues to spread.

The clinical signs vary from a severe respiratory disease with coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge all the way to no clinical signs at all. While the death rate is low, some dogs may develop pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. Virtually all dogs exposed to H3N8 will become infected. Canine influenza is most likely to spread in shelters, day care centers, and boarding facilities, as well as pet stores and grooming facilities.

Diagnosis is made through paired serum samples of blood. Blood is drawn during the first few days of illness and another sample drawn two weeks later. These two samples are sent to a diagnostic laboratory for the measurement of antibodies to H3N8. Treatment of sick dogs consists primarily of supportive care and antibiotics to prevent secondary pneumonia.

The good news is now there is a vaccine available. Schering Plough received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture for a vaccine they have developed. This vaccine was approved in the spring of 2009. Initially a dog is given two doses of vaccine two to four weeks apart and then boosted annually. This vaccine may be given as early as six weeks of age, but I would recommend 10 weeks of age.

This vaccine is not 100% effective at infection, but trials have shown a significant reduction in severity of clinical signs and duration of illness. Eberle Animal Hospital now has this vaccine available and recommends it for our canine friends.

To make an appointment for your pet today, give use a call at: (515) 727-5757, or email us at: dreberle@eberlenanimalhospital.com.

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