Canine Influenza Appears in Wyoming

Several occurrences of canine influenza have the Cheyenne Animal Shelter under a self-imposed quarantine and some dog owners wondering if their family friend or faithful hunting companion is at risk.

The recent upper respiratory infection was diagnosed from samples sent by the shelter to the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida as canine influenza.  The virus first appeared in January 2004 at a Florida dog racetrack when several Greyhounds became ill and died.  Since then it has spread to dog kennels and racetracks in Iowa, Arizona, Wisconsin, Texas, New York and now Wyoming.

The virus is not related to the HN51 virus, the controversial high pathogenic avian influenza virus.  Researchers suspect the canine strain is a mutation from the equine influenza virus.  Currently there are no known human health hazards associated with the virus, and it has not been known to transmit to horses, cats or other animals.

These cases mark the first incidence of the virus in Wyoming.  According to Dr. Gary Norwood, a Cheyenne area veterinarian, the shelter dogs were the first to be tested, but dogs with symptoms have appeared in area vet clinics within the last month.

“It’s going through the community and all of our dogs are totally naïve,” said Norwood.  He explained because this is a brand new virus, dogs currently have no natural immunity against the virus so all exposed dogs should get the disease.

While most dogs will recover from the infection or never develop any symptoms, some 3 to 10 percent will die from the virus, according to Norwood.  Symptoms mimic those of kennel cough, but dogs do not recover as quickly or uneventfully as expected.  Some dogs develop high temperatures greater than 106 degrees, nasal discharges and pneumonia.

The virus is spread through the air and by use of contaminated objects such as shared water bowls, toys or food. 

There is no vaccine.  Once the dog has contracted the disease, treatment may include antibiotics or intravenous fluids.  Prevention is the best medicine in this case. 

Norwood urged dog owners to be vigilant but not to panic.

“In 95 percent of cases, the dog is going to recover just fine,” said Norwood. 

However, for the next few weeks, officials are urging dog owners to take a few precautions.  Here's how to protect your dog spreading the disease.

• Avoid taking your dog places where they would come into contact with other dogs such as dog parks, community parks or stores that allow pets.
• Avoid interacting with other dogs.  People can spread the virus from dog to dog.  Change your clothes and wash your hands after interacting with a neighbor’s sick dog to avoid spreading it to your own dog.
• Separate a sick dog from the rest of your dogs.
• If your dog develops symptoms, call your veterinarian immediately.  Do not take your dog to the clinic without calling first to avoid spreading the disease to animals in the clinic.
• Keep identification tags on your dogs at all times so if they get loose they can be returned to you immediately, instead of being sent to a shelter or holding facility where they might come into contact with infected animals.