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Dog Flu: Signs, Treatments & Prevention

Written by: Sassafras Lowrey, MFA, CPDT-KA, CTDI

Last Updated on March 7, 2024 by Dogster Team

A sick dog with an ice pack on his head.

Dog Flu: Signs, Treatments & Prevention

For people, flu season is right around the corner, but did you know that for dogs flu season never ends? The dog flu is active in communities across the country year round! To learn more about what dog parents need to know about canine influenza and how to keep your dogs safe, we spoke with Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD, the Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine at Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

What is canine influenza, or dog flu?

A sick pug with a mask on.
A sick pug with a mask on. Photography by Shutterstock.

Canine influenza is a respiratory infection in dogs that’s caused by a virus. There are two types of the canine influenza virus currently active in the United States. The two viruses cause similar illnesses but the management is different. The dog flu is very contagious and our dogs are very vulnerable to this disease. “Most of the 80 million dogs in the United States don’t have any preexisting immunity to either of these two canine influenza viruses,” says Dr. Crawford. “This means that if they are exposed to an infected [dog], there’s more than an 80% probability that they too will become infected and sick.” 

How is canine influenza spread?

Turns out that it’s not only dogs that can infect other dogs — humans can infect dogs by carrying the active virus on our bodies. “Canine influenza is transmitted very effectively through the air by coughing dogs, but people can get their clothing, hands and shoes contaminated by the virus that’s in the air around a coughing dog,” Dr. Crawford explains. “That virus will remain active on them for 12-24 hours, so they can serve as a shuttle of a very active virus from one environment with infected dogs to other environments where there are susceptible dogs.”

What are the symptoms of canine influenza?

The signs of canine influenza or dog flu are the same as what humans experience when infected with the flu. For dogs, these symptoms last 10-14 days and include fever, lethargic behavior, decreased appetite, and lots of coughing, sneezing and a runny nose. However, Dr. Crawford explained that approximately “two out of 10 infected dogs will develop pneumonia. These dogs, about 20% of all infected dogs, will end up requiring veterinary hospitalization to treat the severe and life-threatening pneumonia.”

Symptoms of pneumonia in dogs include difficulty breathing. Dogs with chronic health conditions are the most at risk for serious complications from the dog flu.

What are the two strains of canine influenza?

H3N8 is a dog flu virus has been in the US dog population since 2004 and infected thousands of dogs in 42 states, with hundreds of dogs dying from pneumonia complications.

The second canine flu virus, H3N2, entered the United States in March. This strain came into the US via infected dogs from Southeast Asia, where the virus is very common. In the last two years, the virus has spread across the country. It appears to veterinary experts that H3N2 seems to make dogs sicker for longer periods of time, and “it seems there is a higher possibility of a dog progressing to pneumonia if they are infected with H3N2 as opposed to H3N8,” Dr. Crawford notes.

What are the differences between the two strains of canine influenza?

The main difference between the two strains of influenza is the length of time dogs will be sick. “Dogs infected with H3N2, the new [dog flu], are contagious to other dogs for twice as long, which means — based on data we now have — infected dogs need to be isolated from all other dogs for four weeks,” Dr. Crawford says. “Dogs infected with H3N8 [the older flu] virus need to be isolated from other dogs for up to two weeks at most.”

Dr. Crawford explains that this is the hardest part for pet owners, because once dogs appear to feel better, owners will go back to their normal routines. This means that infected dogs might unknowingly expose many other dogs to the virus — especially dogs with H3N2.

Where is canine influenza right now?

A sick dog with a thermometer in his mouth and an ice pack on his head.
A sick dog. Photography by damedeeso/Thinkstock.

This summer, canine influenza outbreaks began in the show dog population in Florida and Georgia. Dr. Crawford explains the progression of the virus over the past couple of months: “In June 2017, there was a reported outbreak in the show dog population, starting in Florida and Georgia and infecting hundreds of show dogs. It spilled from show dogs into the pet dog population in central Florida, where it infected dogs in boarding facilities. Then, it went from dogs in boarding facilities to dogs in shelters in central Orlando. Since June, this virus has moved from Florida and Georgia to 15 other states where it has infected pet dogs, dogs in shelters and show dogs. Currently, we still have very active influenza transition zones in Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota.

Dog flu has been reported in Houston, Texas and Florida. Therefore, there are concerns that dogs being displaced by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma were exposed to the canine influenza virus. Dr. Crawford says that this is exactly what happened in 2012’s Superstorm Sandy in New York and New Jersey. In two of the temporary shelters housing displaced dogs, “both shelters experienced a canine influenza outbreak that lasted for two months,” Dr. Crawford says.

What dogs are at risk for canine influenza?

Dr. Crawford says social dogs are the most at risk for canine influenza. “A dog that goes out to various public settings and interacts with other dogs from the community at a dog park, parade, dog daycare, obedience training class, pet store — these are dogs that go into the community and interact with other dog social dogs,” she says.

Of course, your dog’s risk increases if canine influenza is prevalent in the community. Dr. Crawford recommends that pet owners watch local news for reports and talk to their vets if there are local dog flu outbreaks. If you see reports of an outbreak in your area, be aware that things like bringing your dog out in public and taking your dog to daycare come with an added risk of infection.

How do you protect a dog from canine influenza?

Dr. Crawford recommends talking to your veterinarian about getting your dog vaccinated against both strains of canine influenza. Dog flu vaccines are similar to human flu vaccines — they don’t always prevent dogs from getting sick. However, Dr. Crawford explains that vaccinated dogs are “less sick for shorter periods of time, less contagious to other dogs, don’t have to stay in quarantine for four weeks and are less likely to get pneumonia.”

She also recommends vaccines for all show dogs or dogs who compete in canine sports, as well as all service dogs and dogs that travel with their owners. Dogs that live with veterinarians or their staff should get vaccinated, as well as dogs whose humans work in dog daycares or training centers because of how easily people can spread the virus to dogs.

Think your dog has canine influenza? Call your vet before bringing him in.

Most importantly, if you think your dog is sick do not bring your dog directly to the vet. Call your veterinary office first and discuss by phone how you will bring your dog to the clinic. Canine influenza is extremely contagious, and your vet will want to coordinate your arrival at the clinic to make sure your dog doesn’t expose any other dogs at the clinic to the flu virus. Most dogs with confirmed canine influenza are able to recuperate at home with antibiotics so long as they don’t have pneumonia, but it is important for sick dogs to receive medical treatment.

“Canine influenza is not a seasonal infection like human influenza. It’s a year-round presence and dogs of all ages and all breeds are equally vulnerable to infection,” Dr. Crawford cautions.

The American Animal Hospital Association will release the updated 2017 Canine Vaccination Guidelines soon. This is an online resource that is available to veterinarians and pet owners, giving the most current recommendations on canine vaccinations, including influenza. Visit aaha.org/CanineVaccinationGuidelines for more information.

Thumbnail: Photography by WebSubstance/Thinkstock.

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