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"Dog flu is a respiratory disease that started in horses and jumped to our dog population. some of the clinical signs are coughing, sneezing, restless... like most flu - also has a fever involved with it."
In severe cases, dog flu can lead to pneumonia and turns deadly for about five percent of dogs that come down with it. The virus, first detected in race-track greyhounds a few years ago, is a strain of equine influenza.
it's spread to 30 states including North Carolina. Thus far, dog flu has not been detected in Virginia. That doesn't mean it hasn't hit here.
"The difficult thing is that this looks like other respiratory diseases, it is frequently mis-diagnosed or thought to be kennel-cough."
The good news is that there's no indication that flu can be spread from dogs to humans. the bad news is that it's highly contagious from dog to dog. And it transfers easily on things like toys and bowls.
"Usually see it in shelters where dogs are tightly packed."
Dog doctor Paul West says since the virus is so new, dogs have not built up any immunity to it. In a confined group setting like a shelter, that could lead to problems in a hurry.
"Those are where you'd have the highest spread. Just like us, having a cold during the winter. Someone sneezes and everyone's got it."
"Smushed face dogs like pugs, shih-tzu are at highest risk."
Because cases are for now relatively rare and isolated, dog-experts say owners shouldn't panic but pay close attention for these symptoms:
Persistent sneezing and sniffling Coughing that leads to a yellowish discharge Unusually long-bouts of fatigue
"Certainly don't want to make people feel this is the next black plague for my pet. We just have to see how this plays out."
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