This past year the great Dane Community lost one of our own Tank Greatdane to this terrible
illness.
We do not want Tank's passing to be in vain. we want to ensure the public is educated.
BUT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT CIV...
What Is Canine Influenza Virus?
There are many causes of kennel cough, both bacterial and viral. Canine influenza virus (CIV) is one of the viral causes of
How Could My Dog Catch Canine Influenza Virus?
CIV is easily transmitted between dogs through a combination of aerosols, droplets and direct contact with respiratory secretions. The virus does not survive for a long time in the environment, so dogs usually get CIV when they are in close proximity to other infectious dogs.
Which Dogs Are Prone to Canine Influenza Virus?
Any dog who interacts with large numbers of dogs is at increased risk for exposure. Pet owners should consult their veterinarian for information about vaccination against canine influenza virus.
What Are the General Symptoms of Canine Influenza Virus?
While most dogs will show typical symptoms of kennel cough, a small percentage of dogs will develop a more severe illness. Symptoms of canine influenza virus include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Variable fever
- Clear nasal discharge that progresses to thick, yellowish-green mucus
- Rapid/difficult breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
Can Dogs Die From Canine Influenza Virus?
Sadly as in the case of tank....the answer is yes. Often if CIV is quickly diagnosed and treated, the fatality rate is quite low. Deaths are usually caused by secondary complications, such as pneumonia. It is very important that dogs with CIV receive proper veterinary care.
How Is Canine Influenza Virus Diagnosed?
Veterinarians will typically conduct a thorough physical examination and run a series of tests to diagnose the illness.
How Is Canine Influenza Treated?
Because CIV is a virus similar to the flu in humans, there is no specific antiviral medication available. However, supportive care and appropriate treatment of secondary infections are important. Your veterinarian may advise the following to soothe your dog while the condition runs its course:
- Good nutrition and supplements to raise immunity
- A warm, quiet and comfortable spot to rest
- Medications to treat secondary bacterial infections
- Intravenous fluids to maintain hydration
- Workup and treatment for pneumonia
What Should I Do if I Think My Dog Has Canine Influenza Virus?
If you think your dog has canine influenza virus, immediately isolate him from all other dogs and call your veterinarian.
Can I Catch Canine Influenza From My Dog?
No. There is no evidence that dogs can transmit CIV to humans.
How Can I Help Prevent My Dog From Spreading the Disease?
Any dog infected with CIV should be kept isolated from other for 10-14 days from the onset of symptoms. Dogs are most infectious before symptoms are apparent, and can
I Foster/Work With Multiple Dogs. What Advice Do You Have For Me?
The risk of CIV is always present. That’s why it’s important to work with a veterinarian to develop a plan of action in the event of an outbreak. You’ll want to diagnose and treat the issue promptly.
-
Routinely monitor animals for signs of illness and keep
medical records . - Isolate sick animals from healthy animals, especially those with signs of respiratory disease.
- Wash hands with soap and water after handling each animal.
- Gloves should be worn when handling infected dogs or cleaning contaminated cages.
- Use antibiotics with care.
- Remember that CIV is generally a very treatable disease.
Update for Veterinarians
Canine Influenza Virus:
The Canine Influenza Virus subtype H3N8 was first identified in January, 2004 during an outbreak of respiratory infection amongst Florida racing greyhounds. This virus is an Influenza A virus and is closely related to the equine influenza virus. In fact, canine influenza is now considered to have originated when the equine influenza virus “jumped” species during the 1990’s. Since the first identified outbreak, there have been reports of respiratory disease in racing dogs as well as shelter dogs in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Colorado. More recently there have been documented reports of additional influenza subtypes infecting dogs which include avian-origin influenza H3N2 in South Korea in 2007, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in southeast Asia in 2006 and the new North American H1N1 in New York State in 2009.Clinical Signs
The most well characterized subtype in the United States, H3N8, can cause two clinical syndromes. The majority of dogs develop the milder syndrome, involving a cough that persists for 10 to 21 days despite therapy with antibiotics and cough suppressants. This syndrome can also include purulent nasal discharge and a low-grade fever. The more severe disease involves pneumonia, including a high fever (104º to 106º F) and increased respiratory rate and effort. Thoracic radiographs may show consolidation of lung lobes. Dogs with pneumonia often have a secondary bacterial infection and have responded best to a combination of broad-spectrum, bactericidal antibiotics and intravenous fluid therapy. Because this is a new pathogen almost all dogs are susceptible to infection and an estimated 80% of exposed dogs develop clinical signs. The case-fatality rate in the initial outbreak was high (8 of 22 ill dogs died, for a 36% case-fatality rate), but since then case-fatality has been reportedly low (1 to 5%).Incubation and infectious periods (H3N8 subtype): Clinical signs appear two to five days after exposure. Infected dogs may shed virus for seven to 10 days from the onset of clinical signs. An estimated 20% of infected dogs will not show clinical signs and can become asymptomatic sources of infection
Other Influenza A viruses also affect dogs. Influenza subtype H3N2-induced disease is characterized as causing severe lower respiratory tract disease and appears to have a high mortality rate. Differences in pathogenicity are believed to be due to the whole virus adaptation from an avian virus into a naïve population. HPAI H5N1 has been associated with severe respiratory disease and fatal infection in a dog in Thailand after ingestion of infected chicken tissue. Lastly, influenza subtype H1N1 infection in New York State was reported in 2009 causing pneumonia but the dog recovered with supportive care. The owner of the dog was previously diagnosed with H1N1 and it is believed transmitted the virus to the dog.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of canine influenza subtype H3N8 infection at this time is most reliably done by detecting antibodies to the virus. We recommend testing acute and convalescent sera. Canine influenza serology testing is performed at Cornell University. Collection of oropharygeal swabs or tracheal wash samples on febrile dogs early in the course of the disease may be submitted on ice pack to WADDL for detection of viral RNA by polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) for all Influenza A virus subtypes. Tissues (lung, bronchiolar lymph nodes) from dogs that have died acutely can be submitted to WADDL, a portion fixed in buffered formalin, and fresh tissues submitted on ice pack for PCR. Contact WADDL at 509-335-9696 if any questions arise.Prevention:
There is a newly released vaccine available for the protection against clinical signs associated with canine influenza subtype H3N8. At this time it is regarded as a “non-core” vaccine in the Pacific Northwest, meaning that the vaccine is not routinely recommended unless there were risks associated with horses, racetracks, greyhounds, etc. Dog owners travelling with their dogs to shows in the aforementioned states would be advised to see their veterinarian to decide if the risks warrant vaccination. The infection rate and disease potential with canine influenza are much lower than canine distemper, canine parvovirus, and canine adenovirus, which are considered “core” vaccines for all dogs. The duration of protective immunity (DOPI) and frequency of boosters have not yet been well defined for the canine influenza vaccine. However, an annual booster is recommended by the manufacturer (Intervet data, 2009). This vaccine is not cross-protective to the other influenza subtypes infecting dogs, and there are no vaccines currently available for the other subtypes available for use in dogs.Public Health Concerns:
There is no evidence that canine influenza subtype H3N8 and H3N2 can infect humans and thus does not pose a public health risk. H5N1 and H1N1 have been shown to infect humans however there have been no reports of dog to human transmission of the viruses.References:
Crawford PC, et al. Transmission of equine influenza virus to dogs. Science 310: 482-485, 2005.Daly JM, et al. Transmission of equine influenza virus to english foxhounds. Emerg. Infect Dis 14: 461-464, 2008.
Deshpande MS, et al. Experimental reproduction of canine influenza virus H3N8 infection in young puppies. Vet Therapeutics 10: 29-39, 2009.
Dubovi EJ and Njaa BL. Canine Influenza. Vet Clin No Amer. Small Ani Prac 38: 827-835, 2008.
Harder et al. Influenza virus infections in dogs and cats. Vet. Imm. And Immunopath. 134: 54-60, 2010
Jung et al. Pathology in dogs with experimental canine H3N2 influenza virus infection. Res. In Vet. Sci. Article in press, 2010.
Solomon R and Webster RG. The influenza virus enigma. Cell 136:402-410, 2009.
Songserm et al. Fatal avian influenza A H5N1 infection in a dog. Emer. Inf. Dis. 12:1744-7, 2006
Yamanaka T, et al. Interspecies transmission of equine influenza virus (H3N8) to dogs by close contact with experimentally infected horses. Vet Microbiol 139:351-355, 2009.
www.diagcenter.vet.cornell.edu
www.avma.org
www.healthypets.com
No comments:
Post a Comment