The powerful new Canine influenza has now reached the Charlotte area.
The flu has been mostly spreading at dog shows in other states and has just recently hit North Carolina – there are now two known deadly cases and a woman in Davidson said that all of her seven dogs caught it when they were competing at an out-of-state show.
Dog flu is spreading through our region with 2 deaths in the Raleigh area recently. https://t.co/cX3tmHLluL
— Baxter Vet Clinic (@BaxterVetClinic) June 9, 2017
According to the NCARG, “the virus is highly contagious and easily spread from infected dogs to other dogs through direct contact, nasal secretions (through coughing and sneezing), contaminated objects (kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes), and people moving between infected and uninfected dogs.”
Currently between 5-20 percent of infected dogs develop pneumonia, which can quickly become fatal.
Other symptoms of the new dog flu include coughing, lethargy, nasal discharge and fever and can mimic the highly contagious but nonfatal disease known as ‘kennel cough’.
Many Charlotte-area vets are now recommending that healthy dogs be vaccinated.
The North Carolina agriculture department’s Animal Welfare Section is closely monitoring all cases around the state. You can read up-to-date reports at www.ncagr.gov/vet/aws/canineflu/index.htm.