WE HAVE THE CANINE INFLUENZA VACCINE AVAILABLE !
UPDATE AND INFORMATION:
Recently, we've been getting questions from some of our pet owners about a new dog virus called Canine Influenza. They were concerned about stories that they had seen or read in the news about dog flu outbreaks. In answering their questions, we realized that all of our dog owners may have similar questions and concerns. So we are writing to tell you about canine influenza, what puts dogs and risk and what can be done to protect them.
Canine
influenza is a respiratory disease that can cause coughing, runny nose,
and / or loss of appetite. The signs of infection are similar to those
of other respiratory diseases in dogs but the coughing caused by canine
influenza can last for several weeks. With proper care, most dogs
generally recover. However, canine influenza can lead to more severe or
even life-threatening
infections, such as pneumonia, and has been fatal in up to 8% of cases.
Because canine influenza is caused by a relatively new virus, dogs have
no natural immunity to it. And since it's highly contagious, visiting
places where dogs congregate, such as kennels, doggie daycares, dog
parks or groomers puts dogs at higher risk for catching this new virus.
Making things more difficult is the fact that dogs can spread the virus
before the coughing and other signs of sickness appear.
The best way to protect your dog from canine influenza is through
vaccination. Fortunately, a vaccine is available that aids in the
control of disease caused by canine influenza. This vaccine has been
safely administered to half a million dogs to date.
We recommend vaccinating dogs against canine influenza and we have the vaccine available. Please call us to discuss any questions you might have or to set up an appointment. To give your dog the most complete protection, the initial vaccinations require two doses of vaccine given 2 to 4 weeks apart, followed by a single booster dose given annually.
