Mt Pleasant Veterinarians Info on Canine Influenza

Mt Pleasant Veterinary Information on CANINE INFLUENZA-H3N8

Canine Influenza is…

• An emerging threat to the respiratory health of dogs across the US
  - All breeds and ages are susceptible to infection
  - Because it is a new virus, dogs have no natural immunity to it
• Highly contagious and easily spread through:
  - Direct contact (licking or nuzzling)
  - The air (coughing or sneezing)
  - Contaminated surfaces (picked up on the hands or clothing of a person and then spread when another dog is touched or petted)
• Characterized by a persistent cough that may last several weeks, as well as runny nose, watery eyes, and a loss of appetite and/or energy
• Usually mild, but can progress to a more severe infection or pneumonia in 10% to 20% of cases, and is fatal in up to 8% of sick dogs
• A concern for owners whose dogs:
  - Come from a shelter, rescue center, breeder, or pet store
  - Board at a kennel
  - Attend doggie daycare or group training
  - Visit a groomer, dog park, or other places where dogs congregate
  - Participate in dog events and competitions

Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8 is…

• The first vaccine available to aid in the prevention of disease associated with canine influenza
• Proven to significantly reduce the coughing, severity, and spread of canine influenza infection
• Proven safe; a killed virus vaccine developed, manufactured, and marketed by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and conditionally licensed by the USDA
  - A conditional license is issued to meet a special circumstance such as the emergence of a new virus for which there is no existing vaccine
• Administered in two doses given 2 to 4 weeks apart
  - One annual booster injection is needed to continue protection

Please contact Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital or Shuler Veterinary Clinic to schedule an appointment for your pet! For more information on canine influenza, H3N8, visit www.doginfluenza.com.