H3N8 FLU

This disease is incredibly contagious,” Bessler said. “Virtually every dog exposed to the virus will become infected. It’s that contagious.”
Dogs at highest risk are often involved in "social" situations such as doggy daycare, dog shows and dog parks. The canine flu is spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, so pet owners whose dogs are showing signs of infection should avoid social interaction with other dogs until the symptoms have passed
The symptoms are virtually indistinguishable from a bunch of other respiratory diseases in dogs that we’ve grouped together under the name 'kennel cough,'” Bessler said.

“There’s really no way to tell, based on symptoms alone, that you’re dealing with canine influenza rather than any of the other causes of kennel cough, but there are tests that are available.”
You can also look for signs of the flu in your dog, which include:
— Cough (sounds like the dog has something stuck in its throat);
— Runny nose;
— Discharge from the eyes;
— Fever (hot ears are often a sign of fever);
— Loss of appetite;
— Weakness and lethargy .
If you see these signs, you should take your dog to the veterinarian right away, so they can test for the flu.
“The most important thing to remember is a vast of majority of these cases are mild and resolve on their own even without any treatment,” Bessler said. “A minority of cases can progress to more serious diseases such as pneumonia, and a very, very small minority will result in death. There’s about a 5 percent mortality rate.”

For the full story: http://www.foxnews.co...

Improtant to note: Most cases are mild. Check with your Vet to see if it is in your area, if so, they can administer a flu shot.

Thank you Mary! That is good information to know. I had no idea there was a 'flu shot' for dogs.

I read about this yesterday on kvue.com. When I called my vet today to see about getting the vaccination for Cinder the vet tech that answered the phone didn't know what I was talking about. Does anyone know of any vets that are giving it out here in the Austin area?