Dog Flu
What We Are Allowed To Know About Dog Flu
It has not yet been pegged as a general hazard to all canines, but the dog flu has occurred in a great many breeds of dogs in eight states thus far, as the available reports indicate. This disease has other names, such as Greyhound Flu and race flu for example. It stems from horse or equine flu, and before that avian flu. The theory is that bird carriers of the virus infect the grain and hay of horses at pasture. From there, the infected horses are used in dog food, and are often rendered at such a low temperature as to leave the deadly virus unaffected. As the avian turned horse flu is fed to dogs, the virus is then passed through unabated and attacks the dog directly.
The most disconcerting issue with dog flu is that it is not being talked about within the professional veterinary or breeder circles. The reasons for this are unknown, though a handful of truly concerned experts are working hard to educate those per and business owners who are responsible for holding several dogs in the same area simultaneously. It is thought that the dog flu has been carried to many states through the show ring venues, where many otherwise healthy dogs are kept in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. Of course, not all dog foods contain horse meat, so this is not the most widely spread means of infection. For Greyhounds, however, this was the initial cause for the breakout of the disease and the deaths of so many.
The dog flu resembles kennel cough quite closely, which makes for a difficult diagnosis. This may be part of the reason why the news is not spreading too quickly. The virus takes nearly 4 weeks to complete its cycle in the canine bloodstream. For the first two weeks of the illness, the dog may just seem tired, and he may spend quite a bit of time hacking, snorting, and coughing. Veterinarians will often treat the dog with a mild course of antibiotics and send him away.
Toward the end of this two week bout with what we think is kennel cough, the dog seems to improve drastically and regain some energy. The cough desists, and the appetite and activity levels increase. We think that our pet is finally in the clear, but the sad truth is that the dog flu has just begun its relentless attack. From here, the cough takes on a much wetter and intense action, and is followed by a choking reflex. The dog becomes lethargic, will not eat, and may have yellow discharge coming from the nostrils. Breathing may become shallow and labored, and a few dogs will spike a severe fever. The death rate stands at 1 in 10, though very young and very old dogs are most vulnerable.