Dog Owners Warned About Deadly Virus

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

NBC - SAN DIEGO -- Local dog owners who frequent dog parks and beaches are being warned about a potentially deadly new virus: dog flu.

Dog flu is often confused with kennel cough, according to veterinarians. One local veterinarian said there are easy ways to tell the difference.

"When they come in with kennel cough, it's usually just a very mild, dry cough and that's really about it," said Veterinarian Barbara Darnell. "We call it a dry, hacking cough. With canine influenza, we would typically see a dog with a snotty nose and mucus in their eyes. Their eyes might be half closed, they're holding their head down and they are depressed."

While a bortadella vaccine can protect dogs against kennel cough, there is no such vaccine for dog flu. Darnell said the best way to protect your dog against the illness is to keep it isolated from other dogs, especially dogs with symptoms.

"Right now, I don't know that there are many cases in San Diego that we need to be overly concerned about, but you should be very smart," Darnell said. "If you go to the dog park and there's a dog there with a snotty nose and coughing, you should walk the other way."

One local woman's dog with diagnosed with dog flu, but survived because his owner got him to the vet in time.

Dog flu cannot be passed to humans.

[calgal]

It's a shame the dog parks arn't as safe as we would like. I've never taken any of mine to a dog park, (well once, but didn't put them down because some folks let their BIG dogs into the little dogs area) and have stopped taking them to other parks because there are just too many dogs there anymore. Maybe because their owners are avoiding the dog parks too. I just take them to doggie play-date every Tuesday, and am now going to start play-dates at my house too.
I hear that flu is nothing more than kennel cough, but I will ask my Vet. this Friday when I take Delsi in to see if he wont pull her "stinky" teeth. I'll let you know what he says about that flu.