Canine influenza has been identified in the Triangle. How to keep your dog safe

Cases of dog influenza have recently been identified in the Triangle, causing concern for dog owners.

It’s advised that dog owners take precautions to protect their pets, but it’s not currently a pressing concern for area shelters, said Dr. Jennifer Lynn Federico, veterinarian and Wake County’s animal services director.

“This is more of an issue in the owned dog population. We’re not seeing this in the shelter with strays,” Federico said.

Local veterinary boards have not distributed information about this strain of the flu, which they would do if this were an urgent issue, she said.

“Since we know there’s this flu going around, we can all take precautions to keep our pets safe,” she said.

Here’s what she recommends:

How to protect dogs from canine influenza

▪ Vaccinate: This is the number one way to keep your pet safe.

There are multiple vaccines available, and your vet can help you determine which ones are best suited to your pet’s needs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“Talk to your veterinarian about options, especially if your dog is at higher risk,” Federico said.

▪ Determine risk factor: Dogs at higher risk to develop canine influenza are more social dogs.

“It’s the bougie population of dogs. The ones with this flu aren’t the ones running loose around the neighborhood,” she said.

“They’re at the groomer, they’re having playdates, they have a daily trip to the dog park. The ones who are really pampered and go places where there are lots of other dogs.”

Older dogs who rarely leave the house have a much lower chance of catching this disease.

▪ Isolate: Just like how you’d take precaution against children or adults transmitting diseases to one another, do the same for dogs, Federico said.

Symptoms of dog flu

The most noticeable sign of dog flu is a dry, honking cough. Other symptoms include runny nose, fever, respiratory problems, lethargy, eye discharge, reduced appetite and low-grade fever, our news gathering partner ABC11 reported.

Most dogs recover within two to three weeks, though secondary bacterial infections can develop. This can lead to pneumonia and more severe illnesses.

“Bottom line, if anything is off, just talk to your vet. Notice their behavior and if they have any cold symptoms — runny nose, eye discharge, coughing. Similar symptoms for humans when we start wondering if we have the flu,” Federico said.

Can dogs give humans the flu?

No. There are no reports of dogs with canine influenza spreading the flu to humans, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more on dog influenza, visit cdc.gov/flu/other/canine-flu.