| A new and supposed emerging disease in veterinary medicine, canine influenza, has recently received a lot of attention, as well as unfortunately instilling a lot of fear and worry into the dog owning public. This disease was first identified in racing Greyhounds back in 2004 that were housed very close to a horse race track. Many believe that in fact it was a genetic mutation of the equine influenza virus that crossed over and affected the nearby already overstressed and immune compromised greyhound population nearby starting this supposed new disease. |  |
Viruses of this class do have a strong tendency to mutate to affect other species, and some say that it was the over vaccination and stress of nearby housed horses and greyhounds that contributed to this genetic mutation. In any event, this disease was first identified in a pet population back in the spring of 2005. Identification and diagnosis of this new virus has been seen in approximately 30 states, most commonly as isolated outbreaks in certain regions where there are crowded boarding kennels, pet stores, or shelters. Since this is a new virus, most of the exposed dogs will become infected, with over three quarters of infected dogs showing clinical symptoms. Fatality is between 5-10 percent.
The clinical signs of canine influenza often mimic that of kennel cough complex, however, unlike kennel cough, where dogs are usually only mildly ill with just a dry goose honking type annoying cough, but are otherwise bright, alert and eating. Those with canine influenza tend to have a moister cough as they can have secondary pneumonia, as well as having a low-grade to high fever, as well as purulent nasal discharge and more severe cough and symptoms. Diagnosis can be difficult and usually require expensive PCR testing on nasal swabs or blood antibody levels can be done on some cases. While I have seen that most vets treat this viral disease with various multiple potent antibiotics, often at the same time, that does not make sense to me in a viral infection.
I would much rather boost the immune system of dogs in kennel, boarding, or shelter situations with supplements like Echinacea and Goldenseal from the health food store, Elderberry syrup, and extra vitamin C. I also find that supplements like Vetri-DMG liquid available from 1800PetMeds especially helpful in boosting the immune system of dogs in stressful circumstances. There is a new conditional vaccine that was just released back in May 2009 that is supposed to reduce the severity and incidence of disease and lung lesions, as well as duration of coughing and viral shedding. However, I question whether this vaccination has been truly tested for safety and efficacy with long term independent safety studies, and therefore I don’t recommend it, as well as the fact that this is still a regional disease occurring in isolated outbreaks.
It is my concern that in continuing to add more vaccines like this and avian influenza and swine influenza to various vaccination protocols, that we only increase risk down the road in selecting out for more viral genetic mutations, and more severe influenza viruses that will have the potential to cause more intense clinical signs and mortality, as well as having the potential to affect other species.
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