Canine flu is one of the infectious diseases in dogs, yet it has not received enough attention from many pet owners. So what is canine flu, what signs can help identify it, and how should it be treated? Please refer to the content below to better understand it and proactively protect your pet.
SIGNS OF CANINE FLU
Canine flu can occur at any time of the year. The canine flu virus often causes symptoms similar to infectious tracheobronchitis in dogs, which is caused by one or more bacterial or viral agents, including Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza virus.
Common signs of canine flu include coughing, runny nose, fever, lethargy, watery eyes, and loss of appetite. However, not all infected dogs show all of these symptoms.
The most common clinical sign is a cough lasting from 10 to 21 days that does not respond to treatment with antibiotics or conventional cough suppressants. In addition, dogs with the flu may also have bleeding from the nose or eyes. In many cases, dogs are noted to have nasal discharge accompanied by a high fever (around ~40℃).
Most dogs infected with the flu can recover after about 2 to 3 weeks. However, in severe cases, dogs are at risk of death. The mortality rate ranges from 1–5%, and can even reach 8%. The main cause of death is secondary bacterial infection.
TREATMENT METHODS FOR CANINE FLU
When suspecting that a pet has canine flu, the owner should quickly take the dog to a veterinarian. There, the veterinarian will perform the necessary tests to determine the condition and provide an appropriate treatment plan.
Treatment for canine flu usually includes the following measures:
- Boosting immunity and using antibiotics: This is a very important step because dogs with flu are prone to secondary bacterial infection.
- Symptomatic treatment: Reduce coughing with flu medications for dogs such as Bromhexin, prednisone…
- Supplementing water, electrolytes, and vitamins: In cases where the dog is too weak, intravenous fluids should be administered to support recovery.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Vietnam National University of Agriculture
Source: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture
