2017-06-08
Friends, I am sobered and deeply concerned by the recent news of canine influenza (dog flu) outbreaks in Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina and Texas in the past couple of weeks. Because it has been diagnosed in Austin, TX veterinarians in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area are now asking clients to vaccinate. While is has not, repeat, HAS NOT been diagnosed in Oklahoma yet, I believe that it is time to take action to protect dogs here. For that reason, I am strongly recommending that you obtain vaccination for canine influenza for both daycare and boarding dogs as soon as it is feasible. If possible, get your dog vaccinated with the bivalent (two strain) vaccine. (The VCA hospitals have it if your veterinarian doesn’t carry it yet.) Each dog will need two doses of vaccine two weeks apart and another two weeks after vaccination to be fully protected. While I am not requiring canine influenza vaccination in order to keep existing boarding appointments today, this will change if any outbreak in our area is confirmed in the coming days and weeks. Please make arrangements to have your dogs vaccinated as soon as you are able to do so. I am determined to do everything I can to protect dogs coming to Dogville and since it will take about 5-6 weeks for newly vaccinated dogs to be fully protected, now is the time to act if you have a vacation planned for this summer or fall.
This is not, repeat NOT, the same disease as a kennel cough and the Bordetella vaccine we already require will not protect your dog against canine influenza (dog flu). This is a relatively new disease for dogs in the United States. Symptoms are similar to kennel cough and the disease is HIGHLY contagious.
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