H3N8 Dog Flu

[Adrienne]

New H3N8 Canine influenza spreading: the H1N1 flu of dogs | FOX21Online.com

DULUTH - We've all heard of H1N1 swine flu by now, but have you ever heard of H3N8? It's a new strain of canine influenza virus that's affecting dogs similarly as H1N1 affects humans. The good news is there's a new vaccine to treat it.
As humans line up for shots to ward off the fast–moving swine flu, there's another kind of flu moving through the country, targeting dogs.

[dogsarebetter]

i think there was a thread on this a while ago.

I think vets are just wanting an excuse to pocket money for a new vaccination. I am not getting it for my dogs. no way

but I actually think the same thing with the swine flu so.....

[sillysally]

Originally Posted by dogsarebetter

I think vets are just wanting an excuse to pocket money for a new vaccination.

Meh--Jack just had his yearly last week and the vet never even mentioned it....

[corgipower]

Canine Influenza Backgrounder

Canine influenza virus (CIV) is caused by a highly contagious infection caused by a novel influenza A subtype H3N8 virus first discovered in 2004.

H3N8 in dogs is not new.

[Pops2]

i personally am more concerned w/ how this might affect coyotes & fox, as i can see if my dog develops symptoms and get him treated.

[Brattina88]

Good point Pops.

I'm interested to know how many actual cases have been diagnosed, and where

[FoxyWench]

agree pops.

[corgipower]

Originally Posted by dogsarebetter

I think vets are just wanting an excuse to pocket money for a new vaccination. I am not getting it for my dogs. no way

Not the vets, it's the pet insurance companies that are looking for money from this. H3N8 is not new. The majority of cases of it have been in racing greyhounds. The dogs that the vaccine is recommended for -- if it's recommended -- is the same dogs who would have a bordatella vaccine recommended ~ dogs going to kennels and daycare, groomers, dog parks.

Pet Connection Blog Canine influenza: Scary news everywhere you look — but what’s the real story?

I asked her about the new vaccine, just approved in June. It’s a killed virus vaccine and does not actually prevent infection with CIV. Nor does it protect your dog from becoming ill, although it might make his symptoms less severe (or not). And it also doesn’t mean your dog, sick or not, can’t infect other dogs, even after he’s been vaccinated.

^I suspect the "just approved in June" is the relevant aspect.^

Also ~

Pet Connection Blog Search Results h3n8

This morning one of the pet-insurance companies — not the one that advertises here, please note– sent out a fear-mongering bulletin on Canine Influenza that was really little more than a sales pitch to sign up for insurance.

[Upendi&Mina]

My grandma's shih tzu just recovered nicely from the flu with meds and a bland diet, but now her little chi has it as well as my mom's JRTx. Whether it's H3N8, I don't know. I just know it's the flu. I've been being overly cautious with my girls as they live in the same house as the shih and chi. They've been pottying in a different place as well as being carried through the downstairs...I've also been trying not to handle either one of my grams pups.

Peanut (the chi) isn't responding to the meds as well and is turning down the bland diet, she's not doing well at all. And goes back to the vets on Monday.

I don't know how my mom's pup is doing, or I should say going to do...he just got his first dose of meds today.

[Gguevara]

They really tried saying it was a new strain when it isn't? wow.