Barren Chicago Dog Parks, For Now Due to Dog Flu
by Steve Dale
In Chicago, and many suburban areas the canine influenza virus (dog flu) is at epidemic proportions. According to Dr. Donna Alexander, administrator, Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control at least five dogs have died, and over a thousand dogs in the region sickened as a result of the canine influenza virus.
Dr. Cynda Crawford, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, helped to discover the canine influenza virus 11 years ago. She indicates that eventually the virus will naturally dissipate from the area. However, that natural process isn’t happening overnight because nearly all dogs exposed are being exposed for the first time; and therefore susceptible because there is no built-in immunity to the novel virus. While nearly every exposed dog will get the virus, about 2o to 25 percent don’t actually get sick. Of course, that’s great for those individuals, but their owners have no way to know their dog is carrying and spreading the virus – which is incidentally very contagious.
Crawford and other experts say the best ways to stem the epidemic is to limit exposure to other dogs – obviously to sick dogs, but since there’s no way to know which dogs are shedding virus or not, simply don’t allow dogs to socialize. That socialization where the virus is most easily spread, and occurs at dog parks, dog training classes, boarding and grooming facilities and in daycare. Also, dog walkers who take dogs from multiple homes, and mixing them on walks.
Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=75006
Posted by chesliepickett
on Apr 10 2015. Filed under Featured, Health & Training.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Comments are closed
