Rise in contagious dog flu worries Sonoma vets

Local veterinarians take proactive approach, recommend new vaccine for our canine friends.|

Meet Sonoma’s newest vet

Veterinarian Ashley Atkin joined Valley of the Moon Veterinarian Hospital on Arnold Drive in mid-December. Atkin was born and raised in San Francisco. Previously, she worked at Bollinger Canyon Animal Hospital in in the East Bay. She received her B.S. in Animal Science in 2005 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 2010. In veterinary school she was a vice president of her graduating class and was involved with the Pet Loss Support Hotline, multiple spay and neuter programs and shelter dog training projects. She completed her internship at PetCare– a 24 hour emergency, specialty, and wellness hospital in Santa Rosa.

Midway through the most virulent flu season in recent memory, a highly contagious new strain is barking at the door. But this flu – aka CIV H3N2/H3N8 – afflicts only the four-legged, with man’s best friend squarely in its crosshairs.

Identifiable by the traditional assemblage of human flu miseries – fever, chills, coughing and sneezing – the virus’s pathogens, when airborne, will infect virtually every canine it encounters, with 80 percent developing demonstrable symptoms.

Which is why Vintage Kennel Club sent its clients a recent alert requiring that all “guests” of its “dog ranch and spa” get vaccinated.

The letter read, in part, “The recent cases of Canine Influenza Virus in San Jose and San Francisco have prompted us to consult local veterinarians as well as UC Davis. Based on their recommendation we have decided to take a proactive approach and make CIV H3N2/H3N8 a vaccination requirement. At this point there are no cases of influenza in Sonoma County.”

Dog flu was first reported in the United States in 2004, when racing greyhounds in Florida were infected with a flu virus that had previously afflicted only horses. Once H3N8 made its interspecies commute, it mutated, and in 2015 a second strain – H3N2 – showed up in dogs in the Chicago metropolitan area.

H3N2 had been restricted to South Korea, China and Thailand previously, originating in a direct transfer of an avian influenza virus. Commonly referred to as the “bird flu,” that highly pathogenic virus also crossed the species barrier, targeting humans with deadly effect. In response to what had all the markers of a pandemic in China, millions of birds were culled and slaughtered in 2004, limiting – but not halting – that virus’ reach.

In dogs, as in humans, flu is often marked by persistent cough, fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, and discharge from the eyes and nose, according to veterinarian Ashley Atkins of Valley of the Moon Veterinary Hospital. Some dogs with flu remain asymptomatic, and most will recover in two to three weeks with rest and proper nutrition. An unlucky few may develop secondary infections, like pneumonia.

“It’s very contagious, and can be spread anyplace dogs congregate – in kennels, the dog park or at the groomers. It can even be spread just by a dog barking. We’re being proactive with it. A pound of prevention, right?” said Brian Ness, who co-owns and operates Vintage ?Kennel Club.

Dogs diagnosed with H3N2/H3N8 must be isolated for four weeks, and their owners should wash hands and change clothing after contact to avoid passing the illness to other pets.

Like the human flu vaccine, the canine influenza vaccine will not prevent infection but may limit its duration and severity. The vaccination is administered in two doses over two weeks, providing protection for one year. The cost runs between $50 to $80 at Valley veterinary clinics, and the vaccination must be repeated annually.

Though the fatality rate is less than 10 percent for dog flu, the infection appears to be moving quickly, according to Valley of the Moon Veterinary Hospital. “Several affected dogs have recently been identified in the south Bay Area,” their fact sheet reads, referencing positive diagnoses in December and January.

So, unless your pooch is a purse dog who never leaves your lap, annual flu vaccines now appear to part of routine care. Dog owners should consult their veterinarian to determine their pet’s risk and whether vaccination is the appropriate course of action.

Contact Kate at kate.williams@sonomanews.com.

Meet Sonoma’s newest vet

Veterinarian Ashley Atkin joined Valley of the Moon Veterinarian Hospital on Arnold Drive in mid-December. Atkin was born and raised in San Francisco. Previously, she worked at Bollinger Canyon Animal Hospital in in the East Bay. She received her B.S. in Animal Science in 2005 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 2010. In veterinary school she was a vice president of her graduating class and was involved with the Pet Loss Support Hotline, multiple spay and neuter programs and shelter dog training projects. She completed her internship at PetCare– a 24 hour emergency, specialty, and wellness hospital in Santa Rosa.

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