DOG FLU SPREAD FEARED
Animal-care experts say it’s only a matter of time before canine influenza makes its way to B.C. after the first Canadian cases showed up in Ontario
Animal-care experts say it’s only a matter of time before canine influenza will make its way to B.C. after the first Canadian cases showed up in Ontario last week.
“We’re all bracing for when it hits here,” said Dr. Rebecca Ledger, an animal behaviour and welfare scientist, and Postmedia columnist. “That’s a concern for sure.”
The two greyhounds that brought the highly contagious H3N2 strain of dog flu to Canada were rescued from South Korea by a Detroit organization and then sent across the Michigan border into Essex County, Ont., for fostering.
They have been treated by veterinarians and are expected to recover.
At least five other dogs in Essex County that were in contact with the infected dogs have since tested positive for canine influenza. Affected and exposed dogs are being confined by their owners to help prevent further spread.
Though it was the first time the canine flu was reported in the country, Dr. Emilia Gordon, senior manager of animal health for the B.C. SPCA, said, “We do believe, based on our knowledge of the disease and also the type of animal movement that occurs, it will eventually be seen in B.C.”
Dr. Brendan Matthews, president of the council of the College of Veterinarians of B.C. and a recently retired Kamloops veterinarian, agreed.
“I think because so many people move around, I think British Columbia may actually see more of it (canine influenza) coming in,” Matthews said.
Gordon said the only way B.C. dogs would end up with the flu is through transnational movement of animals, including someone moving from somewhere overseas where the flu is prevalent and bringing their ill dog, or adopting a dog from another country.
The canine flu is prevalent in Asia and some areas of the U.S.
“This is the kind of thing we’ve been warning the authorities about for years, saying this could really happen unless people are on top of doing proper vetting,” said Ledger.
Precautions include giving a dog a proper medical evaluation, vaccinating and quarantining before it crosses the border.
However, a dog can carry the flu virus without showing symptoms. Gordon said a likely scenario is that the dog that brings the flu to B.C. will not be visibly sick and its illness will not be caught before it arrives.
If the flu makes it to B.C., an outbreak could happen quickly if it is not contained because it spreads easily between dogs — both through the air and physical contact.
“Unfortunately when you have a population like ours which is naive to a virus — it has not been here so none of the dogs in B.C. have any immunity — (it) can spread very explosively within a population,” Gordon said.
There is a vaccine, but it is rarely used, she added.
Although, like any flu, canine influenza is potentially fatal it’s rare for a dog to die from the disease unless it has other complications, such as being elderly or otherwise ill, Gordon said. The severity of the flu varies from dog to dog.
Symptoms of canine influenza include coughing, discharge from the eyes and nose, fever and lethargy. It shares characteristics with kennel cough, and can only be diagnosed with a specific test. All experts recommended that if your dog shows these kinds of symptoms, call a vet and keep it away from other animals.
“In terms of treatment, whatever the cause, it’s supportive care,” said Matthews.