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CADILLAC — This time of year it is not uncommon to talk about influenza but recently humans weren’t the only ones being urged to get vaccinated.
There has been a push to get dogs vaccinated against canine influenza after it has seen a rise in the number of cases as well as severity. This summer, Michigan saw an uptick in canine influenza cases and as a result, a special bulletin was sent to veterinarians informing them of the outbreak. As of Oct. 3, there were 160 cases in 12 counties, according to Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. A majority of the cases are in southeast Michigan or the Grand Rapids area and none have been reported in northern Michigan.
Canine influenza is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by specific Type A influenza viruses known to infect dogs, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. No human infections with canine influenza have ever been reported, according to the CDC.
The CDC said there are two different influenza A dog flu viruses: one is an H3N8 virus and the other is an H3N2 virus. Canine influenza A(H3N2) viruses are different from seasonal influenza A(H3N2) viruses that spread annually in people, according to the CDC.
Meyer Veterinary Clinic Dr. Sarah Nelson said canine influenza has been around before but this year a new strain of the virus has caused additional issues. She also said the number of cases has grown since the summer.
“We are trying to get prepared because we knew it was coming,” Nelson said of the clinic mandatory requirement that all dogs being groomed or kenneled must have the vaccination. “It was the beginning of October that we required dogs have it.”
She said this year, the strain of the virus has been more aggressive than in the past resulting in more dogs becoming sick. She also said because they know the strains that are prevalent this year, the vaccination is far more effective than the one given to humans. Although she wouldn’t say it is 100 percent, she said it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that inoculated dogs are 95 percent protected.
Nelson also said the virus is very contagious. It can be pbaded via direct contact by touching noses or by even an infected dog coughing within six feet of another dog. It also can be transferred by the owner as it can be on their clothing.
Dogs with canine influenza will be coughing, sneezing, have discharge from eyes and their nose and they just won’t feel that good, Nelson said. She also said dogs with canine influenza might not want to eat and they likely have a fever.
“We haven’t seen any cases and we haven’t seen any scares,” she said.
While pet owners are being urged to vaccinate their dogs, the department of agriculture also is concerned about dogs in shelters as they are a high-risk group, especially those with daily admissions from a community where the virus is circulating or that intakes animals from another community where the virus is known to exist. Several shelters chose to vaccinate their existing shelter population against the virus, but locally that is not the case.
In Wexford County, Sheriff Trent Taylor said animal control is aware of the recent uptick in canine influenza and they are concerned. He also said the animal shelter is very mindful of the issue and will be monitoring the problem. He said currently the shelter is only using its normal quarantine process that is already in place.
“When a new dog or cat comes into the shelter they are put into quarantine for seven business days,” Taylor said. “We are doing parvo shots on intake but not the new flu vaccine, but that is something we will be discussing in the near future.”
In Missaukee County, Humane Society Licensed Vet Tech Melodie Redden said there is a concern because the Lake City facility does take animals from other states including Texas. Currently, if any dog shows signs or symptoms of anything including kennel cough they are quarantined, but so far no cases of canine influenza have been reported in Missaukee County.
“There is a vaccine for it and it is kind of expensive. You also have to booster it two weeks after the first shot,” she said. “It is not something we could afford here because we are a non-profit.”
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