MIAMI – It’s not just cold and flu season for us, canine flu and other viruses that make dogs sick are also spreading.
Just like people, pets are also dealing with many viruses that can make them sick right now. There is canine influenza and pneumovirus.
“Most dogs will experience 10 to 14 days with a runny nose and cough, but there is a significant subset of those dogs that will progress to potentially life-threatening pneumonia,” said Dr. Cynda Crawford, from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida. Medicine.
Some animal shelters have had to suspend dog adoptions due to cases of the flu or pneumovirus, such as Pinellas County Animal Services.
“Once it starts spreading, it just goes away,” said Pinellas Animal Services Director Doug Brightwell.
Dr. Crawford said the message is the same for sick pets as it is for sick people.
“Limit their activity so they can get some rest. Make sure you confine them to the house because whatever is causing their cold is probably contagious to other dogs,” he said.
While there is no vaccine for pneumovirus, there is a vaccine against canine influenza. So if you plan to house your dogs for Christmas, now is the time to get vaccinated.
“Timing is very important because his antibody production is what needs to build up,” said veterinarian Dr. Jimmy Davis.
Dog owners should always be on the lookout for warning signs. If your dog stops eating or has difficulty breathing, contact your vet. Vaccinating your dog against canine influenza may not prevent infection completely, but it can reduce the severity and duration of the illness, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
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