Canine influenza virus appears to be spreading throughout the east coast and in several other locations throughout the country. As of September 21, 2009, there have been no reported cases in the state of Maryland. We DO have the vaccine at Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hospital and are recommending it for dogs at risk. The vaccine is a killed virus vaccine and is reported to decrease the severity of disease, not necessarily prevent infection. Two vaccinations are required, 2 to 4 weeks apart to provide maximal protection. Please talk to the doctors at OSSVH if you think your dog is at risk. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Click here to view a recent article in Veterinary Forum about Canine Influenza.

Note: Canine Influenza is NOT Swine Flu (H1N1). Click here for more information on Swine Flu and how it may affect your pets.

The following is a excerpt from a communication from the Diagnostic Center at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine:

CURRENT FACTS OF CANINE INFLUENZA VIRUS (CIV)

Influenza virus was first identified as an infectious disease of dogs in 2004. The first isolation of the virus was done at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell in conjunction with a study being conducted by the University of Florida on respiratory disease in racing greyhounds. The virus was sequenced at the CDC and determined to be related to the H3N8 equine virus that was circulating in horses in the US. Specific genetic differences between the equine viruses and the virus from canines defined the virus as a unique canine influenza virus (CIV). Within a year of the discovery, CIV was found in pet dogs in Florida and in the New York City area. Since that time the virus has been found in different areas of the US but in most cases, the infection was contained and did not become enzootic. The exceptions to this pattern were Florida, New York City area, and Colorado. The samples submitted from Maryland have all been negative for the canine influenza, and there remain no confirmed cases to date.

Currently, there is an increase in awareness of CIV due to the release of a CIV vaccine, the detection of the virus in several new areas and more testing in support of the vaccine release. The Northeast region (New York City to Philadelphia) continues to see CIV activity with a new introduction into northern Virginia. Colorado also continues to have frequent CIV activity with new reports from Las Vegas and California (California has had positive dogs in the past). Virus has not been detected in Florida over the past year.

CIV continues to move slowly through the canine population. Risk factors for the infection are having dogs in closely confined conditions such as in boarding kennels, day care settings and animal rescue shelters. Animals being relocated from the rescue shelters seem to be a main source of the movement of the virus to new locations. The clinical signs associated with the infection are indistinguishable from the traditionally defined “kennel cough” now more appropriately referred to as acute respiratory disease in dogs. The morbidity rate in normal populations can be very high (60-80%) while the mortality rate due exclusively to CIV is very low. The significance of a CIV infection is that it comprises the normal defense mechanisms of the canine respiratory tract so that secondary bacterial infections are common sequelae. Dogs may cough for several weeks after infection, but they are not contagious at this time. Dogs are generally free of CIV by 7 days post onset of clinical signs. The vaccine should be considered in those situations where one would have used the standard kennel cough vaccines and where there have been documented cases of canine influenza. Simply having a seropositive dog in a given area is not definitive proof of the existence of CIV unless one has proof that the dog originated in that area and never traveled to an area enzootic for CIV. Those involved in the breed rescue organizations should not be moving dogs from affected areas without vaccinating the animals that will be coming in contact with the rescued animal.

The diagnosis of canine influenza necessitates the identification of CIV in the acutely infected animal or demonstrating CIV antibodies in the later stages of the clinical event. As noted earlier, CIV infections cannot be diagnosed by clinical signs. Detection of CIV can be done by doing a PCR test for influenza virus or by isolating CIV from a clinical sample. The AHDC offers a PCR test that can detect any influenza virus in a specimen, not just CIV.