Protecting yourself and your family against the flu isn’t just something you should think about for yourself, it’s also something you should do for your dogs!
Canine flu was first discovered in the southern United States, and it started as a respiratory disease, but then mutated into a very contagious version that is very easily spread from dog to dog. Even dogs that don’t appear sick, can be carrying the disease and can spread it to other dogs, So be careful if your dog is in doggie daycare, or a boarding facility, or other environment where they may come into contact with other dogs.
Canine flu is not like the stomach flu that we humans get, this is a respiratory disease, so some symptoms to watch for if you’re concerned your dog may have canine flu:
- Sneezing, Coughing
- Lethargy
- Decreased Appetite
- Fever, Runny Eyes
While canine flu is typically not life threatening, as with the flu we get, it is more serious in old and young dogs, and can lead to other issues which can be very dangerous (pneumonia for example).
If you think your dog may have contracted canine flu, you should bring them to your veterinarian. There are medications which can be prescribed to help, and if symptoms are serious enough, your pet may need to be hospitalized, however, most of the time, it is a self limiting disease.