Social dogs in Baytown should get flu vaccine, officials say

BAYTOWN, Texas – Officials at the Baytown Health Department are recommending dog owners vaccinate their dog against canine influenza.

According to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, what is commonly called the dog flu is still an emerging disease and almost all dogs in the U.S. are vulnerable to the infection.

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“Virtually all dogs exposed to the virus become infected, but not all dogs exposed to the virus show symptoms," laboratory experts said. "The report says that nearly 80 percent of dogs show symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, lethargy, reduced appetite and fever."

Canine influenza can be spread among dogs, experts said. The risk of a dog catching the virus depends on how often they are exposed to other dogs at places like boarding or day care facilities, dog parks, grooming salons or social events with other dogs present.

Extra precautions may be needed with puppies, elderly or pregnant dogs, as well as dogs with weak immune systems.

Officials said the Texas A&M lab is monitoring several cases of canine influenza across Texas, including two in Harris County.

Experts said two forms of the virus have been discovered by Texas A&M. They said most dogs display the symptoms of the mild form, outlined above. However, they said, there is also a severe form that is accompanied by pneumonia. They said fatal cases of pneumonia as a result of the virus have been reported in dogs, but the fatality rate is low.

Vaccines are available for both strains of the virus, and a veterinarian should be contacted for questions about the varying options.