It was in the year 2004 that the incidence of canine influenza was reported for the first time ever. The causal agent was found to be various forms of Influenza virus A such as equine influenza virus H3N8. The infection arrested racing greyhounds of Florida, resulting in hemorrhagic pneumonia and fatality. |
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The next year witnessed the spread of this infection all over United States in animal shelters, groups for adoption, pet stores, kennels and also veterinary clinics. Dogs of all ages despite being vaccinated might be still at the risk of contracting the infection. Moreover, owing to its relatively recent outbreak the immune system of dogs is not equipped to fight the infection.
While canine influenza exhibits an incubation period of 2 to 5 days, the 7 to 10 days following the appearance of symptoms fall under the most infectious duration of the disease termed as viral shedding. All dogs exposed to the disease are at a potential risk irrespective of the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease. Signs of canine influenza include mild fever, dry or cough accompanied with mucus lasting for about 10 to 30 days, discharge of blood from the nasal passage and no reaction to antibiotics.
Once the disease attains a relatively more severe form which is about in a week’s time, the symptoms escalate in the form of high grade fever touching 104 to 106 degree Fahrenheit and pneumonia. However, the development of pneumonia is a repercussion of a subsequent bacterial infection and not the actual disease. In extreme cases, the infection may even result in death. Until now, canine influenza is not known to pose any risk to the human race.
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