by KYW's Nan Talleno
Recently canine influenza H3N8 has emerged as a serious infectious respiratory disease or CIRD among dogs. This flu, which affects dogs only, seems to have first emerged in Florida. It’s likely that it originally manifested from a viral transmission from horses to dogs and has unfortunately been widely spread. This flu is not contagious to people or any other species other than canines but it is, however, highly infectious among dogs.
Presently, dogs that have been recently exposed to other dogs in a kennel or boarding facility may be most at risk. Check with the facility and your veterinarian.
The most persistent symptom to watch for would be coughing. Listen for either a soft or productive cough, or possibly even a dry cough sounding similar to kennel cough. Either of these types of cough could be present with this virus. Also watch for nasal discharge, mild fever, lethargic behavior and lack of appetite. A small number of cases proved fatal due to complications, so it’s best to take your dog to your vet immediately if these symptoms occur.
Keep your dog in good overall health, well-nourished, well-fed and well-rested with just the proper amount of exercise to strengthen his/her immune system. Take your dog to the vet for regular check-ups but especially if your dog may have been exposed to the H3N8 canine virus.
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