Canine influenza virus (also known as "dog flu") is a respiratory disease affecting dogs. H3N8 variety has been documented in 40 states plus the District of Columbia over the past several years. We do have a vaccine for H3N8 and some of you may vaccinate your dogs for it. We require it for all boarders and highly recommend it for dogs that go where the virus can spread rapidly: boarding facilities, groomers, doggy day cares, dog parks and other spots where dogs co-mingle.

You may have seen in the news a newer influenza strain that became epidemic in the Chicago area. This is the H3N2 influenza virus and there is currently no specific vaccine for it, although the H3N8 vaccine may have some crossover protection according to the manufacturers. It spread to the Atlanta area and has also hit North Carolina with 22 confirmed cases from Fayetteville, Asheville, Triad and Triangle areas. With Carteret County having so many tourists and constant inflow of  visitors we are at risk of the virus arriving here. 

Contact us right away if your dog has any of the following symptoms:

-Coughing

-Discharge from the nose or eyes

-Loss of appetite

-Lethargy/lack of energy

The virus can be spread by direct contact with respiratory discharge from infected dogs, through the air via a cough or sneeze, and by contact with contaminated objects such as dog bowls and clothing, or by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs.

The vaccine is given with a booster repeated 3 weeks later and then once a year thereafter. We strongly recommend it for all dogs but especially for those that have owners that travel, work with dogs, compete with their dogs or frequent any of the above listed spots.

More information about Canine Influenza Virus is available at http://www.doginfluenza.com/.