Canine Influenza Update!

There have been confirmed cases of Canine Influenza H3N2 in Minnesota. The disease was found in a population of shelter animals that came up from Oklahoma, and at least some of these dogs were adopted out before the shelters were quarantined. This is a very contagious respiratory disease which has been present in the United States for many years but is rarely seen in Minnesota. There are vaccines available for this disease which can help limit the severity of illness, though this vaccine is currently in limited supply.

Canine influenza is one of many diseases that make up Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRD), also sometimes referred to as Kennel Cough (the ‘Kennel Cough’ vaccine however is specifically for Bordetella, a different infectious agent). Once a dog has contracted influenza, they can remain infectious for up to 28 days. The disease is easily spread through respiratory secretions, so it can rapidly infect a large number of animals.

We are currently recommending that dog owners avoid contact with other dogs, especially if your pet is unvaccinated. This includes boarding, grooming, and dog parks. We are hoping that more vaccine will become available over the next month or so, and that by then we will have a better sense of how large this outbreak will be. If you are planning on boarding your dog in the near future, be sure to check with your boarding facility to determine if the Canine Influenza vaccine is required for boarding.

Because of the infectious nature of this disease, we must be extra cautious with any dogs that come to the clinic with respiratory symptoms. We may request to examine your dog in your car rather than bringing them into the building, and will likely recommend running a PCR panel to test for canine influenza.

Please do not hesitate to call the clinic if you have questions regarding your dog’s health.