New Outbreak of Canine Influenza in Metro Atlanta | Vaccine Available at Zebulon Animal Hospital
There has been a recent nationwide outbreak of Canine Influenza, and it has hit the metro Atlanta area. This is a highly contagious virus that affects a dog’s respiratory tract.
Symptoms include coughing, nasal and/or eye discharge, lethargy, fever, and reduced appetite, with coughing being the most common symptom which can last 10-21 days. More severe cases of Canine Influenza can lead to pneumonia and even death.
Canine Influenza is spread through direct contact with an infected dog, through the air, or through contact with objects or people that have been in contact with infected dogs.
It is most commonly seen in dogs that have recently been in a boarding or grooming facility where they were in close proximity to other dogs.
Most dogs begin showing signs two to eight days after exposure. While there are cases of this virus affecting cats, cases are rare. There is no evidence that Canine Influenza can be spread to humans.
This virus (H3N8) was originally identified in 2004 in racing greyhounds in Florida, then it made its way to numerous other states. Several years later another strain (H3N2) was detected first in Chicago, then across the country.
A vaccine was soon introduced and recommended to all dogs, which greatly helped slow the spread of the virus. There is currently no vaccine available for cats.
At Zebulon Animal Hospital we strive to provide the best care possible to your pet and make recommendations based on each pet’s individual lifestyle.
When Zebulon Animal Hospital opened in 2018, we initially offered the vaccine against Canine Influenza, however, most boarding and grooming facilities in our area do not require it, as it had not been a major issue locally.
As the Canine Influenza Vaccine is considered a “lifestyle” vaccine (meaning it is only recommended for dogs whose lifestyle puts them at risk of the virus) we soon stopped providing it and to this date have not seen or heard of positive cases of Canine Influenza in our local area.
However, due to the recent uptick in the metro Atlanta area, we have again begun recommending this vaccine to any dog that may come in contact with other dogs.
It is especially important for dogs that visit grooming or boarding facilities.
This vaccine protects against both the H3N8 and H3N2 strains and does require a booster two to four weeks after the initial vaccine.
Your dog is not considered protected until two weeks after the second dose, so it is extremely important to schedule an appointment for the vaccine well in advance of any exposure you may expect your dog to have.
While we have not had any positive or suspected cases at this point in time, we want you to have all of the information and resources available to protect and care for your dog in the best way possible.
Please give us a call with any questions or concerns you may have at 770-872-8343.
Serving Zebulon, Griffin, Barnesville, Thomaston, Meansville, Concord, Molena, Williamson, and the surrounding areas.
7594 Highway 19, Zebulon Ga, 30295
Zebulon Animal Hospital
770-872-8343
Please refer to the following articles for more information regarding the Canine Influenza Virus and the current outbreak:
https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/canine-influenza-pet-owners-guide
