Dog flu is a newly emerging infectious disease caused by a strain of
influenza A
virus known as H3N8. It is a highly contagious strain that causes respiratory illness. Canine influenza virus only affects dogs.
Dogs have no natural immunity to this relatively new virus - every dog exposed
to it will become infected.Only about 80% of infected dogs will show signs of infection,
and those that don’t can still spread the virus to other dogs.
Since 2003, there have been many reports of flu outbreaks in veterinary clinics,
kennels, and shelters. Some were traced back to one sick dog that spread
the virus throughout the facility, infecting many other dogs.
Dog flu spreads the same way that human flu spreads:
- through direct contact (kissing, licking, nuzzling);
- through the air (coughing or sneezing);
- and via contaminated surfaces (such as when a person picks up the virus
on
their hands or clothing then touches or pets a dog). Spread can also occur
if that
same person touches and contaminates another surface—a doorknob,
for example.
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