September 27, 2017. According to the State Veterinarian office, Shelby county currently has no reported cases of canine flu. We still recommend the vaccine for dogs at high risk (traveling, boarding, dog shows, etc.) Our flu vaccine availability may be sporadic, so please call ahead of time if interested in vaccination.
August 10, 2017. Hello all! Canine flu is making it’s way here again. This strain appears particularly virulent, with some of the affected dogs showing severe and prolonged signs of respiratory and overall illness. We are currently awaiting press release on the prevalence of canine flu H3N2 in our area. There are potential reports that Shelby Co has cases. Currently, we have the vaccine available. We strongly recommend the vaccine for dogs who board, show and compete, attend parks and daycare, travel, frequently see the veterinarian, and are otherwise at higher risk of exposure – although we have it available for any family who makes a decision to vaccinate. Should the data indicate high prevalence/high risk, we may change the status to mandatory for boarding. The vaccine is administered in 2 series, 3 weeks apart, and is very affordable. Immunity develops around 2 weeks after the second booster, so make your plans accordingly if possible. Refer to this link for the product we use:
https://www.zoetisus.com/products/dogs/CanineInfluenzaVaccineH3N2/
Past Posts:
April 2015. We have been getting lots of inquiries regarding the current outbreak of canine influenza in the Mid West. The media coverage seems to magnify the uneasiness. Let us clarify a few things to put your mind at ease.
Memphis and the tri-state area are not current centers of epidemic for canine influenza. The outbreak in Chicago has 34 positive samples out of under 50 submitted for testing to Cornell University – with some testing positive for other respiratory pathogens and different strains of influenza. Most of the patients had low morbidity and recovered with minimal treatment. Our State Veterinarian office has not reached out with a specific plan of action due to the area not being a current epidemic. We will post immediately should this change.
We recommend avoiding bringing your dog to the current outbreak area to minimize the chance of exposure. We have limited boarding space available to accommodate your pet; qualified pet sitters, family, etc. are alternative options. Should you absolutely have to bring your canine companion to the endemic area, a vaccination is recommended 2-3 weeks prior to travel – although no vaccine guarantees full protection. “While vaccines may provide a certain amount of cross-protection against different strains of the same virus, it is not known if the current vaccine will provide any protection from this new virus” – from article by Jill Lopez, DVM April 13, 2015. You also may check with the specific State Veterinarian office regarding quarantine protocols that may be in effect. Due to limited availability and demand for vaccine, as well as concerns of over-vaccinating, we do not currently carry the flu vaccine. Should you need to find the vaccine, we will gladly help you locate a hospital that carries it.
Please refer to the following links for more information:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/index.htm
http://www.doginfluenza.com/pdfs/Talking-Points-Chicago-CIV-Jill-Lopez.pdf