CANINE INFLUENZA VIRUS IS ON THE RISE

BECAUSE THIS IS A NEWLY EMERGING DISEASE, ALL DOGS, REGARDLESS OF BREED OR AGE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE AND HAVE NO NATURAL IMMUNITY WHEN FIRST EXPOSED.

IF THE VIRUS ENTERS A KENNEL OR OTHER CLOSED GROUP IT WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY AND ABOUT 75% OF DOGS WILL BECOME SICK. ABOUT 25% OF DOGS WILL NOT BE SICK, BUT WILL SHED THE VIRUS AND EXPOSE OTHER DOGS.

MOST DOGS WILL HAVE MILD FORMS, BUT SOME DOGS DEVELOP SEVERE PNEUMONIA.

DOGS WITH THE MOST RISK OF BEING EXPOSED ARE DOGS THAT ARE BOARDED OR GROOMED.

PATCHELL VETERIANRY CLINIC IS RECOMMENDING ALL DOGS BE VACCINATED AGAINST CIV YEARLY BUT WE WILL REQUIRE THAT DOGS BOARDED IN OUR FACILITY AFTER DECEMBER 1, 2011 MUST BE VACCINATED AGAINST CANINE INFLUENZA.

AN INITIAL VACCINATION IS GIVEN, THEN BOOSTERED IN 2 TO 4 WEEKS. THEREAFTER IT IS GIVEN YEARLY. THE VACCINATION MAY NOT PREVENT INFECTION COMPLETELY BUT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN IT REDUCES THE SEVERITY AND DURATION OF CLINICAL SIGNS AND DAMAGE TO THE LUNGS, AS WELL AS SHORTENING THE SHEDDING INTERVAL, DECREASING EXPOSURE TO OTHER DOGS.

PLEASE CALL THE CLINIC AT 501-362-2800 TO SCHEDULE YOUR DOG FOR THE CIV VACCINE TODAY.

FOR INFORMATION ON THE CANINE INFLUENZA VIRUS CLICK HERE.