Do I Need to Vaccinate for Canine Influenza?
Our first priority is keeping your dog–and every other boarder–safe during their stay with us. One of the ways we ensure their safety is to insist that every guest have their required vaccinations before they check-in, because in a kennel setting, the health of one dog can affect the health of other dogs.
Canine influenza–a new disease–is threatening the health of dogs in boarding facilities, shelters, clinics, and communities across the US.
Keeping our facility, and our community, safe is going to take all of our efforts.
The good news is that there’s now a vaccine to protect against canine influenza. Here’s why we think the vaccination is so important.
What Is Canine Influenza?
Canine influenza is a respiratory disease that can cause coughing, runny nose, and/or loss of appetite. The signs of infection are similar to canine cough, but the coughing caused by canine influenza can last for several weeks.
With proper care, most dogs generally recover. However, canine influenza can lead to more severe or even life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia, and has been fatal in up to 8% of cases.
Because canine influenza is caused by a relatively new virus, dogs have no natural immunity to it. And since it’s highly contagious, visiting places where dogs congregate puts dogs at higher risk for catching this new flu.
These places could include:
- Boarding facilities
- Veterinary clinics
- Doggie daycares
- Dog parks
- Groomers
Making things more difficult is the fact that dogs can spread the virus before the coughing and other signs of sickness appear.
Protect Your Dog
The best way to protect your dog from canine influenza is through vaccination. A vaccine called Nobivac Canine Flu H3N8 is available and has been safely administered to over a million dogs to date.
WE NOW RECOMMEND VACCINATION AGAINST CANINE INFLUENZA FOR ALL DOGS THAT BOARD WITH US.
Please contact your vet to schedule an appointment. Note that two doses, given 2-4 weeks apart, are necessary to provide immunity against the virus. (A single, booster-dose vaccination is required annually to continue protection.) Keep this timing in mind when planning our pet’s next stay with us.
Please note: We highly recommend this vaccination, but, just like the human flu vaccination, VACCINATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT YOUR DOG WON’T GET INFLUENZA.
More information can be found at www.dogflu.com