Can I Give My Dog The Flu

Tips For Preventing The Dog Flu

The best thing you can do to keep your dog healthy is maintain their core vaccines , which will help them avoid a secondary respiratory infection. Other preventive tips are:

• Bring your own water to the dog park.

• When you come home, take your shoes off at the door and wash your hands immediately.

• Leave leashes and dog coats at the door.

• Keep surfaces and textiles clean. Canine influenza tends to survive no longer than 48 hours in the environment and can be inactivated by common cleaners, such as a bleach-water solution. Fabric items that have come in contact with sick dogs should be washed in hot water with regular detergent.

What Are The Causes

Why do animals get sick? Why do we get sick? Viruses, bacteria, parasites, all pathogens are there, all the time. So why do some individuals get sick while others dont? In theory, we should all be prepared to fight whatever pathogen we accounter, our immune system is responsible for that. It is highly intelligent and has all the tools to recognize a foreign invader, attack it, and remember it for the future. But sometimes our immune system is not winning thats because it is weaker than it should be.

So the real question is:

What Are The Symptoms Of Canine Influenza

Symptoms of the flu differ between dogs, so not all of them will display the same signs, but these are the most common ones:

• A soft, dry cough that persists for 10 to 21 days despite treatment

• Nasal congestion and/or thick nasal discharge

• Fever

• Lethargy

• Poor appetite

If your dog shows signs of the flu, take them to your veterinarian. To reduce its spread, ask the reception staff if you should stay in the car until they’re ready for the exam, and enter and exit by a side door if possible.

Influenza can be mistaken for kennel cough . Bacteria like Bordetella and Mycoplasma and viruses such as parainfluenza, canine distemper, and canine adenovirus-2 present similarly.

Dogs with influenza, however, often spike fevers. You can monitor your pupâs temperature using a rectal thermometer, ideally every four to six hours to make sure it stays below 103°F. A high-grade fever and increased respiratory rate and effort could mean that your dog is developing pneumonia your vet will most likely recommend chest x-rays to screen for this.

Treatment for the flu is supportive care. Based on your dogâs exam and signs, it may include antibiotics for secondary infections, fluid therapy, nutritional support, appetite stimulants, and dog-specific fever-reducing anti-inflammatory drugs. Most importantly, keep your sick dog home and away from other dogs for at least four weeks. If you have multiple, even those who seem healthy should also be quarantined.

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Canine Flu Symptoms May Include:

• Persistent cough
• Nasal discharge not just your dogs normal wet nose
• Fever
• Eye discharge look for goopy, mucus-like discharge or a noticeable increase if your dog normally has eye discharge
• Reduced appetite
• Reduced activity, lethargy

Its important to recognize the symptoms of dog flu so you can seek treatment for your pet quickly.

Canine Influenza Vaccination: Does Your Dog Need It

Living in the Northeast, there are those of us that dread the snow, ice and frigid temperatures while others cant wait to frolic in the fresh powder or bundle up for some sledding. We will remain split down the middle on that debate, but one thing we all can agree on is that there is nothing worse than flu season.

As humans, were fortunate enough that the flu is generally limited to a season. Our canine friends, however, are not so lucky. Canine Influenza is a highly contagious disease that is a threat all year round.

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Can Dogs Get Colds

No, dogs dont get colds in the same way that humans do and they cannot catch the cold virus that causes symptoms in humans. However, dogs can get infections that create symptoms like a cold, such as sneezing and congestion. In general, these dog colds are specific to that species, so you wont be able to catch the same cold as your dog either.

How To Prevent Dog Flu

Since canine influenza is highly contagious, its important to take necessary precautionary steps to prevent it from spreading.

Vaccinate your dogOne of the best ways to prevent dog flu is through vaccination. Speak with your vet about vaccine options during regular bordetella vaccination visits.

Wash your hands after touching other dogsAlthough humans cant contract dog influenza, they can spread it to other dogs by contact. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands after petting or playing with other dogs.

Isolate your dogIf your dog displays flu-like symptoms, keep them isolated from other dogs until symptom-free to prevent the spread of the virus.

Most dogs recover from canine influenza virus fully if they are provided with good care and medical attention as required. If you suspect your dog may have canine influenza, take them to the vet right away.

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How Is It Spread

Canine influenza is spread through the exchange bodily fluids, like saliva, ocular discharge, nasal discharge and fecal routes. The transmission can occur in a variety of ways:

• Direct contact with another dog
• Inhalation from another dogs cough droplets
• Contact with contaminated items like bedding, food/water bowls and peoples hands

There are places you can avoid to prevent this type of transmission from happening. These places typically have a large population of unknown dogs like:

• Dog parks
• Dog club meetings

How Is Canine Influenza Virus Spread

Almost all dogs are susceptible to canine flu infection, and virus infection tends to spread among dogs housed in kennels and shelters. Canine flu is thought to spread mainly among dogs through respiratory droplets produced during coughing and sneezing from infected dogs, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Therefore, dog owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not expose their dog to other dogs or to cats. Clothing, equipment, surfaces, and hands should be cleaned and disinfected after exposure to dogs showing signs of respiratory disease.

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Tips To Care For A Dog With The Flu

Dog flu itself is not usually life threatening and will typically run its course in about a week. However, it can lead to complications like dehydration or pneumonia without proper care. These tips can help you make your ailing dog more comfortable and avoid getting other pets in the house sick:

• Keep your dog warm and encourage them to drink lots of water to help stay hydrated.
• If you have more than one dog, isolate the infected pooch in a safe and cozy room.
• Give them a comfortable pet bed, blanket, and be sure to have plenty of fresh water on hand.
• Wash your hands carefully after attending to your sick dog so you dont pass the virus to other pets.
• Consider wearing gloves and putting a spare shirt on over your clothing to help prevent spreading the infection.
• Do not allow your dogs to share food or water bowls, or grooming tools.

You dont have to worry about scrubbing and disinfecting the entire house. The flu virus doesnt survive more than 48 hours in the environment.

While you cant absolutely prevent dog flu, you can get reimbursed for the costs of covered veterinary care, such as diagnostic tests and prescription medications with an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan

Can A Dog Get A Cold From A Human

Achoo! Are you sneezing? Do you have a stuffy nose or a sore throat? In humans, colds appear after a person comes in contact with another human infected with a virus. Other symptoms, besides sneezing, a sore throat, or a stuffy nose, include watery eyes or excess mucus in the nose and throat. So, can a dog get a cold from you?

Here’s some great news: If you’re sick and your pup wants to give you a smooch and cuddle to raise your spirits, you don’t have to turn him away. Some infections, viruses, or even bacteria are species-specific, which is why you don’t need to worry about sharing a common cold. A human cold can only affect humans. It cannot be transmitted to animals, says PetMD.

Can a dog get a cold from another dog? Unfortunately, the answer to that is yes. While you may not be able to pass your cold to your pet, that doesn’t mean another dog’s sneezing can’t get your pup sick. In fact, many of your dog’s symptoms will mimic a human’s. According to PetMD, “While there are differences in the types of viruses that infect humans versus dogs, the symptoms are basically the same: sneezing, coughing, runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes.” There are many types of viruses that dogs can spread to each other. Let’s take a look at one of the most common dog colds:

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How Does It Make Me Feel

The flu makes me want to isolate, I want to stay in place. I dont want to move. I feel safe in bed.

If this feeling is a magnification of the emotional cause, that means the initial feeling is a need for isolation. Why? Maybe you need a break from your routine? A break from life? You dont want to handle your daily chores, just for a while, without feeling guilty about it. The flu gives you a legitimate cause to stay in bed. If This is how your routine is making you feel the solution is this:

Change the routine. Some change needs to be made. You can make a changeade by letting life flow, enter into the flow, let go of resitance and trust. Maybe the change is the resistance itself.

Please, let me know your thought, your doubts, if you have any questions, some topics I did not cover, contact me, I will be happy to help!

Colds And The Flu: What About Cats

For the 38,900,000 households that own cats, similar situations apply cats can catch colds, but not of the same variety as humans. If your cat is sick with a cold make sure you keep them away from other cats to avoid spreading the illness. If you or your cat have the flu, take extra care to avoid spreading the illness by changing bedding, washing hands, and being careful when refilling water or food dishes.

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Home Remedies For Dog Flu

1. Provide soft, strong-smelling foodsSince dog flu can have a negative impact on your dogs appetite, try to make their food more appealing by providing softer foods. Try warming the food slightly to enhance the scent.

2. Make sure they have plenty of fresh waterHydration is essential to helping your dog recover. Ensure your dog has plenty of water available to drink throughout their recovery.

3. Make sure your dog is comfortableEnsure your dog has a comfortable spot to rest and recover.

4. Keep your dogs face cleanTake a warm washcloth and gently wipe your dogs face to clear up any discharge from the nose or eyes.

What Is The Metaphysical Cause For My Pets Flu

The chakra associated with the respiratory system is the heart chakra. That means this chakra is closed. When the heart chakra is opened, love to god/universe, to others, to oneself, and thus to life, is flowing.

When it is closed, there is a block in this flow, a lack of love either for god/universe, for others, or for oneself, and with that comes the need for isolation. Prana, or life force, doesnt flow freely, the chest area, where the respiratory system is, is vulnerable and the virus will attack there.

A symptom is a magnification of the real cause, so the question you should be asking yourself in order to find the cause is:

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Reverse Zoonosis: A Worldwide Threat

As animals are increasingly present in households around the world, the chances of this transmission occurring grows at the same rate. Dogs no longer occupy task zones in the house, now more than ever, they share the same environments and spaces as humans. Some tutors don’t mind sleeping in the same bed or kissing their furry ones. For this reason, the records of these cases increase considerably all over the world.

However, the risk of transmitting the disease cannot change these bonds of affection between owner and pet, but should serve as a warning so that, in situations where the tutor is sick, contact with the dog may be limited. In this way, their health is protected.

The Common Cold And The Flu

While humans and animals are both capable of developing symptoms that are typically associated with the common cold, the good news is that the likelihood of a person transmitting the illness to a dog is extremely low. Coates says, in almost every case, the viruses that cause cold-like symptoms in people and dogs are species-specific. Colds in both dogs and people generally resolve on their own, but if symptoms worsen or fail to improve, its best to see your doctor .

As far as transmission goes, the same cant necessarily be said for the flu. While most of the medical community has long believed that the flu cannot be passed from human to animal, recent cases have shown that the adaptable nature of the flu may very well mean that some strains can indeed be passed from humans to other animals, including dogs. In truth though, the risk of this occurring is still extremely small . While some pet owners might swear that their dog came down with the sniffles shortly after they did, this is most likely a coincidence.

The good news is that while your family should keep their distance from you while youre suffering with the latest cold or flu bug, you can still curl up with your dog for comfort and emotional supportand the same goes for when your dog is feeling under the weather.

Image:Fly dragonfly/Thinkstock

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Other Infections Can Be Spread Through A Dog Bite

One of the most common ways to pick up an illness or infection from a dog is through saliva. But, it’s important to know that it usually takes a bite or skin abrasion for a dog’s germs to cause infection in a person. This means you can continue to let you dog lick your face if that’s your thing.

“Most of the germs spread via a dog bite are part of a dog’s normal mouth flora. While it’s normal for a dog to have these germs in their mouth, it’s not normal for you to come into direct contact with them,” Dr. Long explains. “But, again, it typically takes a bite or contact with an existing skin abrasion for the germs found in a dog’s saliva to cause illness in a person.”

The following illnesses can be spread through a dog bite:

• Rabies although very rarely spread from dogs to humans in the U.S., this can be a fatal disease in both dogs and humans
• Pasteurella one of the most frequently isolated germs from dog bites that can cause tenderness, pain and swelling
• Capnocytophaga a germ that causes serious infection and can ultimately lead to sepsis and meningitis
• Brucella occurs most commonly in farm settings, with symptoms ranging from fever to body aches

What To Do When Your Pet Is Sick

A cold or dog flu can be extremely detrimental to your dogs health, so take every precaution necessary to ensure theyll be back to their normal self. Most of the time, if your pet is sick, theyll recover within a matter of days or a week on their own. However, if your pet does not recover after two weeks or so, or if your pet has a compromised immune system, youll want to visit an emergency veterinarian or veterinary specialty center. A veterinary specialty center will be able to help you take care of your sick pets properly, as well as prescribing any medications needed to help fight the infection. Make sure to take your pet to veterinarians regularly to keep them at full health, especially if theyre sick.

You dont need to wait for an emergency to become familiar with our veterinary services. Get the best care you can find for all of your pets health needs. We are more than just an animal hospital. Call 520-888-3177 for more information about our specialty services on site, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Contact us today or directly call us at 520-888-3177 for more information about our specialty services on site, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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What Is The Treatment For Canine Influenza

As with nearly all viral infections, treatment is largely supportive. It is important that your pet be kept in a warm, dry area away from other dogs fed a high-quality diet and kept well-hydrated during illness. Good nutrition and husbandry is crucial in ensuring that dogs mount an adequate immune response and can help promote faster recovery. Dogs affected with a mild form of canine influenza will often develop a secondary bacterial upper respiratory infection. These dogs typically have a thick green mucous discharge from their nose and benefit from broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Dogs that develop pneumonia may require hospitalization, intravenous fluids and medications, and potent broad-spectrum antibiotics. Most dogs fully recover from canine influenza within 2 to 3 weeks. It is important to consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of treatment. Dogs exposed to the virus should be isolated for 4 weeks to prevent further spread.