Canine Flu:
Horses have had their own influenza almost forever. There has been a vaccine against there type A2 strain for more than thirty years. The antigen drift has been very slow in the equine species. Recently in the year, 2004 a virus mutation allowed the equine influenza jump species to canines. This move is a nasty disorder for dogs. I attended a continuing education presentation at the Toledo Veterinary Medicine Association pertaining to Canine Influenza.
The USDA approved a canine flu virus vaccine on August 1, 2009. Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health developed the vaccine. This is a killed virus. It is intended to be an aid in controlling disease associated with infection with canine influenza virus "type A subtype H3N8". It seems everybody is on the H-number N-number shorthand code for a flu virus numbers now that there is a vaccine available. USDA and the manufacturer are recommending dogs out mixing with dogs from states other than Michigan get a series of vaccinations. Dogs attending shows, field trial events or good old coonhound three night events have need of vaccination. Please note the vaccine will not prevent the canine flu but should result in a milder less deadly form of the disease. The killed virus vaccine is administered three to four weeks apart. The immune system will not activate completely until three weeks AFTER the second dose. This means calling for an appointment Thursday will not help for a Saturday departure. There will not be any protection for the dog.
Canine influenza was first isolated in U.S. dogs during 2004. This was an outbreak of respiratory disease in racing Greyhounds in Florida. It has been detected in dogs in 30 states and the District of Columbia. There is no evidence existing of transmission of the virus from dogs to people, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) controls the conditional license, and distribution in each state. Veterinarians use this vaccine only. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) explained that during the one-year conditional license period, the Committee on Veterinary Biologicals (CVB) will monitor the product's performance and will evaluate the vaccine and company's progress toward full licensure
This particular vaccine gives protection to about 92-95 percent of those vaccinated correctly. The usual response to vaccinations issues, soreness at the site of injection, and a slight increase in grumpy factor for a day or so. This is a provisional / conditional licensed vaccine. This means is the only way the vaccine could get to market is to finish the clinical trial on the general dog population rather than in controlled lab dogs. Is the vaccine effective? It probably is effective. Are there any side effects of vaccination? Time will tell. It boils down to if you wish to protect your dog you need to understand the system. They are doing the best it can to offer a fast track vaccine. The product is administered by injection and is recommended for use in healthy dogs that are six weeks of age or older. While there is a high morbidity (most exposed will get the disease) the mortality is five to eight percent. If one hundred dogs get the disease, one can expect five to eight dogs will die if they contact the virus. Treating viral diseases with antibiotics helps to control secondary bacterial infections. The advice of take it easy, drink lots of fluids and stay home is as pertinent for canine flu as well as human flu.
Canine Influenza vaccination may be worth considering for our canine buds. Here is an informational piece by Intervet - Schering.
For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.
The outside of a pet is good for the inside of a human.