Haasmore Darling Dackels

Please when traveling keep in mind these tips:

• Get a pre-travel vet checkup. Get a health cert saying that your pet is happy and healthy, well enough to travel. This may seem like its not worth the trouble but it is. If your pet ends up in a shelter for whatever reason, you can get him/her out much faster with your documents.
• Always use a crate!!! It is much safer than just your loving arms. We understand that your pet may be crying and look so sad, but its much worse to have something happen during an accident.
• Make sure your pet has proper id. It can be a tag, tattoo, or a microchip, but please use one or all of the above. You never know when your pet will get separated from you.
• If your baby needs meds, make sure to bring plenty of them!! You don't want to run out. While at the vet, get an extra copy of your perscription so that if the meds get lost, you can get more.
• Make sure that you pack everything your pet needs: health documentation, health records, meds, a few toys, and his food.

*adapted from Sharon O'Brien's 10 Tips to Prepare Your Pet for Travel*

• benedryl for bees, hornets, wasps... etc.
• antibiotic cream
• antiseptic wash
• stick 2x2's
• regular 2x2's 
• coban or roller gauze
  
• small scissors 
• the telephone numbers of your vet and nearest vet ER. they should be kept in a special place that is easily visible, and everyone who is left in charge of your dog should know where these numbers are.
• An "In case of Emergency" card for your dogs. Especially good if you are single. have your next of kin/emergency contacts and what "I want done with my dogs",  names, ages, micro-chip#, local vets office, who will take care of them and pay any vet bills incurred from our accident (should you be seriously injured). It's good to keep 1 in your wallet and with your car registration so the police can find it easy and your baby doesn't end up in a shelter.

What is the Canine Flu?
Canine influenza is a contagious viral infection of dogs, caused by Influenza Virus A subtype H3N8.

Did this virus come from the Bird Flu?
No--the canine influenza virus is not a mutation of avian influenza, commonly known as Bird Flu. The avian flu virus of worldwide concern is a different subtype (H5N1). While both are in the same broad, general family of viruses (Orthomyxoviridae) that cause the flu in people, pigs and birds, they are not the same strain. Canine influenza is actually more closely related to the horse or equine influenza virus, and likely mutated from this strain.

What does the Canine Flu do to dogs?
The canine influenza virus can cause mild to severe illness. Mild effects include a soft, moist cough with or without a low grade fever that lasts 10 to 30 days despite treatment, along with yellow/green nasal discharge if a secondary bacterial infection occurs. More severe illness can result in high grade fever as well as rapid/difficult breathing, which is usually caused by secondary pneumonia.

Is Canine Flu fatal?
Typically, most infected dogs develop mild to moderate signs that resolve within 10 to 30 days without problems. As with other flu viruses, fatalities can potentially occur, but are not common and are generally due to secondary complications such as bacterial pneumonia.

Is the virus just in a few states, or is it all over?
Canine Flu is currently considered to be an endemic virus, meaning that outbreaks have occurred sporadically in certain areas.  Currently, outbreaks at dog race tracks have been reported in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin.  Outbreaks in pet dogs have occurred in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, the state of Washington, and Washington, D.C.  These cases occurred in animal shelters, rescue groups, pet stores, boarding kennels and veterinary clinics.

How easy is it for my dog to catch?
The virus is contagious—spread via aerosolized respiratory secretions.  Thus far, most outbreaks have occurred between dogs who are kept in large numbers in relatively close quarters, such as greyhounds at racing tracks. The risk of infection in a canine who does not attend dog shows or frequent kennels is fairly low. However, because this is a recently emerged disease, there is no natural or vaccine-induced immunity—so all dogs are susceptible.

I think my dog may have caught Canine Flu. How do I know for sure?
The symptoms of canine influenza closely resemble those seen with other respiratory diseases, such as kennel cough. Because of this, kennel cough can potentially be mistaken for canine flu. 

While there is currently no reliable rapid test available to veterinarians for diagnosing canine influenza, tests are available at certain diagnostic labs. For more information, contact your local veterinarian.

Can people get Canine Flu?
There is no evidence to date demonstrating that the canine influenza virus can be spread from dogs to humans. It is typically uncommon for a virus to “travel” from one species of animal to another, and then become infectious among individuals of the second species with normally functioning immune systems.

What can people do to help prevent spreading Canine Flu from one dog to another?
Any dog infected with Canine Flu or as any other respiratory disease should be kept away from other dogs until the illness completely resolves. 

Solutions as simple as soap and water are effective disinfectants for eliminating the virus from surfaces. To help reduce the risk of spreading the virus, gloves should be worn when handling infected dogs or cleaning contaminated cages.

Where can I go for additional information about Canine Flu?
For more information about canine influenza, please visit the American Veterinary Medical Association - Canine Influenza Page.