Keeping your dog healthy requires coordinating with your veterinarian to ensure they’re protected from all illnesses — including new ones you may not even know about. Clark Animal Care Center in Penfield, NY, is currently urging families to schedule dog vaccinations to fight against a new form of canine influenza. If you’re concerned about your pet’s health, learning about this illness is the best way to prevent it or treat it quickly.

Veterinarian Explains New Form of Canine Influenza

Essential Information

In 2004, the H3N8 strain of canine influenza began infecting dogs in Florida. If your pet has already received a flu vaccination, this is the strain it guards against.

However, in 2015, the H3N2 strain — previously restricted to Korea, China, and Thailand — spread to multiple dogs in the Chicago area. When it first arrived in America, there was no vaccination for it. Now, there’s a new influenza vaccine consisting of both strains. That’s why animal hospitals like Clark Animal Care Center have begun offering a bivalent H3N8/H3N2 vaccine to protect dogs from this newer form of the illness.

Symptoms

Canine influenza is very contagious, so it’s important to keep an eye out for symptoms, which include loss of appetite, lethargy, fever, coughing, and nasal discharge. That said, about a quarter of all dogs infected with the illness show no symptoms, making vaccinations crucial. With proper medical attention, most infected dogs will make a recovery. However, it’s important for them to receive professional care; otherwise, the illness could result in potentially life-threatening conditions like pneumonia.

To learn more about protecting your dog from canine influenza, get in touch with the experts at Clark Animal Care Center in Penfield, NY. They’ll make sure your furry friend has all the vaccinations they need. Contact them online or call (585) 377-1160 to schedule an appointment.