Dog flu cases are on the rise

The end of flu season is just around the corner – that is, unless you have four paws and a constantly-wagging tail. Nearly a half-dozen US metro areas have reported outbreaks of canine influenza, aka dog flu, over the past week.

🐶 More details... Thousands of dogs have fallen ill in animal shelters located across the country, including Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Chicago, eastern Minnesota, and southern Kansas. As a result, many shelters in those areas have been forced to temporarily close their doors and humanely euthanize a handful of dogs with severe symptoms.

🤔 Should I be worried for my dog?... While canine influenza is highly contagious and easily spreads via direct contact between dogs, it typically only results in asymptomatic cases or mild symptoms similar to the human flu (like a cough, fever, and/or decreased appetite).

A “very small” number of dogs who contract the disease end up dying, many after developing secondary bacterial infections leading to pneumonia, per the CDC. Dog flu is considered especially dangerous for puppies (<1 year), older dogs (>7 years), and those with preexisting health conditions.

• There’s also a preventative dog flu vaccine, though CBS reported in mid-February that vets across the US have been in short supply after a similar nationwide outbreak occurred late last year.

+Worth mentioning: No hooman human cases of canine influenza have ever been reported.