On watch for dog flu

Two strains of canine influenza are causing outbreaks across the country. But you can take steps to protect your dog.

anine influenza, also called “dog flu ” has been making the news on and off for the past year or so. A new strain, imported from Asia earlier this year, has sickened thousands of dogs in the United States, and as outbreaks have spread from state to state, some of the local headlines have sounded dire, with terms such as “deadly,” “contagious” and “epidemic.”

So when you hear your dog starting to cough one night, naturally, you’re worried. Ordinarily, when one of your animals seems a little sluggish, you’d “wait and see” for a day or two before calling the veterinarian. But is this a time to rush your dog to the emergency clinic?

Not necessarily ---at least it’s not an emergency. Even if your dog has contracted influenza, chances are he will be just fine. Still, it

is a good idea to ge him to a veterinarian sooner rather than later

“The golden rule, if you are seeing a respiratory illness in your dog, is that he ought to be seen by a veterinarian and maybe be treated with an antibiotic before it gets worse,” says virologist Edward Dubovi, PhD, of Cornell University. “Mortality is not great as a result of the virus, but the difficulty with respiratory infection in dogs isn’t with the initial viral infection; it can be complicated by secondary bacterial infections that, once entrenched, can be difficult to treat.”

Researchers are still gathering data and working to understand all of the risk factors for canine influenza. In the meantime, your best bet for protecting your dog is limiting his exposure to situations where he might come into contact with the virus. Here’s what you need to know.