[Great Hall of Rockwall] OT: Canine influenza

[Kelli Quinn]

Because we've got so many dog moms and dads on this list:

Dog flu spreading, but needn't be deadly

By Roberto Santiago and Karin Dryhurst
McClatchy/Tribune newspapers
Published July 26, 2006

MIAMI -- Veterinarians are on the lookout for a deadly dog virus making its 
way around the country.

Dog flu -- also known as canine influenza virus -- is a highly contagious 
respiratory disease that has more than tripled since last year, said Cynda 
Crawford, an immunologist at the College of Veterinarian Medicine at the 
University of Florida.

Veterinarians in Miami-Dade County, Fla., randomly sampled 100 dogs with 
respiratory distress from October to May.

Ten percent tested positive for canine influenza, said Sara Pizano, director 
of Miami Dade Animal Services. Eight dogs were put to sleep.

In Broward, Fla., several dogs were put to sleep earlier this year at the 
Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division, said Tarnell Carroll, 
spokesperson for the county Animal Care and Regulation Division.

Palm Beach County has been hard hit in recent weeks. Recently, more than 70 
infected dogs were put to sleep in one week in one animal shelter.

In September, seven states reported outbreaks of dog flu. As of this month, 
22 states have reported outbreaks, said Crawford, a national expert on dog 
flu.

A dog afflicted with the virus has a nagging cough, weakness, runny nose and 
loss of appetite.

The disease does not affect humans.

Researchers believe that the virus "jumped species" from horses (infected 
with equine influenza) to dogs, possibly in 2004, when dog flu was first 
discovered.

Most of the cases occurred where dogs have been confined in close quarters, 
such as shelters, kennels and dog tracks.

"As with any new disease, it is going to get worse before it gets better," 
Crawford said.

Dogs afflicted with canine influenza can be cured if the disease is caught 
in time, experts said. All it takes is antibiotics and patience.

There is no vaccine, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering 
two vaccines to treat the disease, Crawford said.

When treated and diagnosed in time, more than 90 percent of the dogs 
survive, Crawford said.

At Broward County animal care, workers use bleach and water -- a mixture 
that kills the virus -- to thoroughly clean the shelter.

"As of today, we have been fortunate," Carroll said. "We don't have any 
current cases."

Some dogs have been misdiagnosed with kennel cough, a common bacterial 
infection, Crawford said.

Canine influenza is a more deadly viral infection.

Many dog owners have never heard of canine influenza.

James Isom, a vet at Plantation Animal Hospital, said he will tell his 
clients about it if they ask.

"The dog flu's around, and they may come down with it," he said.

Isom suspected an outbreak two years ago at the animal hospital, which he 
opened in 1972.

"We thought we had kennel cough," he said.

He treated the dogs with antibiotics to prevent pneumonia, bronchitis and 
other secondary conditions. He didn't lose any patients in the outbreak.



Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune





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