Dog flu hits Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County

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TCPalm

By Elliott Jones

WABASSO — The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County has quarantined its dog adoption center for fear some of the animals may have a new virus, dog influenza.
The University of Florida is running tests to see if the center's dogs have the illness, society Executive Director Joan Carlson said Thursday. Results won't be available until next week.


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Until further notice, the public should not bring in pets for adoption, Carlson said. And no pets will be adopted out. The shelter will continue to receive lost dogs.
If the center has dog influenza, it also might be out in the community's canine population, she said.

Recently, society workers phoned 80 people who adopted society dogs since May 15. Four had been treated for what was presumed to be a lesser common disease, kennel cough. But veterinarians had put to death two ill puppies, Carlson said.

According to the University of Florida's veterinary school, dog influenza is centered in Miami-Dade, Duval, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The Humane Society of St. Lucie County hasn't seen any cases of the disease, said spokesman Mike Winikoff.

Carlson advises the general public to consult veterinarians if their dogs are sneezing, coughing and acting lethargic. About 80 percent of dogs that come in contact with the disease show symptoms ranging from mild to severe, with the youngest and oldest dogs being the hardest hit. Only 1 to 5 percent of the dogs die, she said.

There is no known vaccine. Treatment is by antibiotics and good care, she said.

"It is no different from when we get influenza," Carlson said.

Sebastian veternarian Kelly Donaldson advises people to be concerned even if their pets develop a regular dry cough. Within three days, that could turn into the flu. She urges pet owners to isolate their animals as soon as a dry cough develops. That in-home quarantine should last two weeks.

"You want to keep your dog away from other dogs," she said.

So far, only three of the shelter's 30 adoption dogs are visibly sick. Five adult dogs have been put in isolation as a safeguard, Carlson said. The quarantine began Tuesday.

Thursday night, the center brought in a St. Augustine veterinarian specializing in shelter medicine to make sure the shelter is doing everything possible to contain an outbreak.

Earlier this year, the Humane Society of St. Lucie County did have cases of distemper that led to a halt in adoptions for several weeks in April, Winikoff said. Since then, the illness hasn't resurfaced.

Shelter administrators restricted public access to the dogs while they were monitored for signs of disease. Adoptions were postponed and vaccinations were doubled to help fight the spread of distemper. Distemper symptoms begin with mild nasal congestion and drip, and progress to heavy breathing, lethargic behavior and death.

Staff writer Casse Carling contributed to this report.

DOG INFLUENZA

This is a new virus in Florida. Currently it is centered in Miami-Dade, Duval, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Symptoms: Sneezing, coughing and lethargy.

Treatment: Antibiotics and good care.

Survival rate: Only 1 to 5 percent of all dogs — particularly the youngest and oldest — die of the virus.

• For more information, go to a University of Florida Web site: www.canineflu.org or www.vetmed.ufl.edu.