Blog Protecting Your Dog Against Canine Flu

Just like people, dogs can be affected by different strains of canine flu. Symptoms can include fevers, listlessness, coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose. While canine flu based on its symptoms usually looks a lot like “kennel cough”, in rare cases it can lead to life-threatening pneumonia.   If your dog has a cough or is feeling ill, see your veterinarian immediately. Don’t ignore it. Canine flu is very contagious! and protecting your dog against canine flu

The virus transmits from dog to dog through direct contact with a sick canine or contact with a contaminated environment. And because it’s a viral infection, there’s no specific cure and the treatment is mostly supportive. That said, it is preventable through a vaccination. 

Veterinarians recommend keeping an infected dog in a warm, dry place away from other animals and feeding him or her a highly nutritious diet with plenty of hydration. Most dogs recover in two to three weeks, but some develop pneumonia, which may require hospitalization, intravenous fluids and medications. If you know for a fact that your dog was exposed to canine flu, plan to keep him or her quarantined for about four weeks – even if no symptoms are present.  Aside from  a recent outbreak at a rescue organization in Palm Beach County this year, there has not been an outbreak in Palm Beach County since 2017.  

At Very Important Paws, we take extensive precautions to ensure the safety and health of our guests by requiring all dogs to be vaccinated for rabies, distemper, parvo and bordetella. We also strongly recommend that all furry guests receive the canine flu vaccination as a preventive measure. 

VIP’s #1 goal is to keep your pets safe and healthy. Here’s a list of safety practices and precautions we undertake on a daily basis:

• UV light antibacterial scrubbers in all of our air conditioning units
• Cleaning and changing all of the air filters regularly to ensure the freshest air. 
• Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing all suites daily
• Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing daycare areas and yards multiple times per day.
• Cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing all of our guest food and water bowls daily

Rest assured that the safety and health of our guests is our highest priority, as it has always been since 2004. 

For questions and information, feel free to give us a call at 561-366-9000.