Today’s post is a part of the Insider’s Program on Bloggy Moms. I have received information and materials regarding the dog flu. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post.
If your dog is like our dog, it is a part of our family. Our Nessie is special to us as she was a rescue and had been abandoned in a swamp. She has become bonded with my husband and is his ‘girlfriend’. Nessie sits looking out the window, looking for his car. She greets him in the morning when he gets up and she even gives him head hugs when he pets her. Nessie is a great guard dog too, she lets us know when someone is in the driveway. Life would be very different without her.
We do our best to take care of Nessie and ensure she has the proper nutrition. We take her to the veterinarian to make sure she is vaccinated and healthy.
Dog Flu
We had a scare a few months ago with our dog being sick (turned out well in the end). Did you know that dogs can get the flu? I had no idea until recently. Unlike people, dogs can get the flu, medically known as canine influenza, year-round. It was first found in the United Stated in 2015, and there was a recent outbreak in Chicago in 2017. There is no natural immunity to dog flu, so dogs need to be vaccinated.
Be sure to download the Merck Animal Health and The Dogist’s If This Dog Could Talk: Tour to Prevent Dog Flu album. This is a campaign from Merck Animal Health. They documented their stops around the country (Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte and Gilbert, AZ) to share this important information with others. Download the Full Tour Album here.
Things you need to know:
- Don’t let sick dogs share water with other dogs
- Dogs can share dog flu by direct contact with respiratory discharge
- By air in a cough
- Bark or sneeze
- Contact with contaminated objects (like toys, bowls or clothing)
By doing this, you can help to prevent the spread of dog flu, which leads to these symptoms
- Coughing
- Fever
- Sneezing
- Ocular discharge
- Lethargy
It’s best to get your dog checked out before it has any symptom as severe cases can lead to pneumonia and critically ill dogs could die.
What to do when your dog is recovering:
A lot of the same principles we apply to our kids, we should apply to our dogs when they have the flu. Your dog will need lots of rest. Dogs should not have play dates until they are better. Your dog should definitely not go to day care either. They will be so excited to go back when they are well though!
Prevention is key
To keep your pooch healthy, you need to take him to the vet to get the vaccination for dog flu (both strains: H3N2 & H3N8). It will help against getting the flu. Your 4 legged kids will be glad you got them vaccinated.
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