Canine Flu / Influenza Vaccine

Canine Influenza, or dog flu, was first diagnosed in 2004. Since that time - it has been found in about 30 states, including Virginia. It was found in Fairfax in the summer of 2009 and one case was diagnosed recently in the Shenandoah Valley. The virus is highly contagious and all dogs are at risk because it is a new virus that dogs have no immunity to. About 80% of dogs infected will develop symptoms which are similar to kennel cough but more severe (high fever, nasal discharge and can lead to pneumonia). About 5% of canine influenza cases may be fatal.

Canine flu can NOT be spread from dogs to people - it only spreads from dog to dog. In May, 2009 a vaccine with a conditional license for canine influenza became available. This means the vaccine did not go through the full safety testing that most vaccines go through before being released. They did perform a study on several hundred dogs that showed it to be safe, however, most vaccine safety trials are much larger than this. This is different than the new flu vaccine in people - there has been a flu vaccne for many years for people that only needed to be slightly changed. There has NEVER been a flu vaccine for dogs.

Like the flu vaccine for people, the dog flu vaccine will not prevent geting the flu. It has been shown to lessen the severity of symptoms and decreases the length of time that a dog shows symptoms and sheds the virus.

OLD DOMINION ANIMAL HOSPITAL currently has the vaccine in hospital. It requires 2 vaccines given 2-4 weeks apart under the skin. At this time, we are recommending it for animals at high risk including those that travel to affected areas of the country, those that visit boarding or grooming facilities and dog parks. Because the flu spreads like kennel cough, we recommend that all dogs that get the bordetella vaccine receive the flu vaccine as well. Dogs that have been examined in the last year and are otherwise healthy and up-to-date on their other vaccinations can receive the canine flu vaccination without a doctor's appointment. New clients or dogs that haven't been examined within one year will need a doctor's appointment and physical examination.