Do you want to know everything about the flu in dogs? If so, you are in the right place, here you will find everything about this condition that usually afflicts dogs a lot and that worries owners, discover its symptoms, the appropriate treatment, the form of contagion and whether or not this condition can be prevented. .
Influenza in dogs – Symptoms and treatment
Surely your dog at some point has become ill, perhaps with the flu or perhaps with fleas, ticks or gastritis in dogs, in any case, it is always essential to maintain the well-being of the dog, take care of it properly and on time, paying attention to its daily actions is always essential, since in this way any change will be noticed and it will be possible to act quickly.
It is important to note that there are always times during the year when the flu is more likely to appear, due to the weather, whether it is very cold or it rains very often, perhaps it is those climates that make dogs more vulnerable to contracting virus.
Keep in mind that before any symptom that appears in your pet and that lasts for more than forty-eight hours, you must act quickly, take it to the veterinarian so that he can evaluate what these symptoms are due to and rule out any possible problem. Remember that, although they are often minor ailments, they can sometimes worsen and complicate your pet's life.
Always avoid self-medicating your dog, many times the mistake is made of giving him a medicine that has been prescribed on previous occasions or that a neighbor or family member recommended, in dogs as in people, the body acts differently, so that what was good for one person may not be the same for another, nor will what previously caused those symptoms be the same as what they have now.
What is dog flu and where do its viruses come from?
When referring to a flu, it is being said that it is that condition that causes problems within the respiratory system of your dog, it is vulnerable to an infection that it contracts through the virus called "canine parainfluenza", which is popularly known as kennel cough.
Not always that the dog has the flu means that it is due to the climate in which it is developing, but that there is a virus that is in the animal's body causing the symptoms and general discomfort; In the first case, when we talk about the flu caused by the weather, then it is called a cold.
There are many false beliefs or myths that have been transmitted from generation to generation, establishing that there are possibilities that the dog can infect the people around him, of this flu that is afflicting him, however, the experts assure that this is a totally false information and that it is important to avoid passing on such misinformation; neither can it happen, on the contrary, that is, from humans to dogs.
The latter is due to the fact that the microorganism that causes this type of condition is not the same in humans as in dogs, they differ considerably even though the symptoms they generate are usually very similar. More if it can be spread from dog to dog, but all this will be detailed in the corresponding segment. If a flu that seems simple is not treated, it could quickly turn into pneumonia and make your pet very complicated.
Flu symptoms in dogs
It is always important to be very attentive to the symptoms that your dog may reflect, since it is through these that any condition and future complication can be detected in time, their behavior always has something to say, whether positive or negative, stay alert to what he does or has not done is paramount.
If you think your dog has been infected with a flu virus, it may have some of the symptoms mentioned below, although it may not show all of them:
- Your dog is sneezing a lot and too often, in addition, he has already had this symptom for more than 24 hours.
- You are coughing a lot, either dry or with phlegm.
- He has many breathing difficulties, he looks agitated when he walks or runs.
- It is noted that he has many ailments in his muscles, so he looks down.
- Your dog is dehydrated, so you will surely have to prepare a dog serum.
- His eyes have secretions
- He is very tired and looks tired.
- He is not hungry at any time of the day, which may be due to the fact that his throat is very sore.
- Shows no interest in the game
- It has high temperatures, that is, more than thirty-eight degrees Celsius.
Treatment of the flu in dogs
Once you have detected all the symptoms and the doctor confirms that your dog has the flu, it is necessary to determine the treatment, which is solely in the hands of the veterinarian, since he is the specialist in the area, and when checking your dog he will know what medicine is better for your body and which will not cause allergies and fewer side effects.
Going to the vet is also important because the presence of these symptoms does not always mean the flu, but may be the presence of another condition, such as distemper, which is very similar at first.
If the specialist tells you that there is the flu, then the safest thing is that they indicate the use of an antibiotic and in some cases they use an anti-inflammatory in addition to the previous one. You must be aware that the dog should never be given a medicine that is for humans, it is usually a blunder; also using medicines without prior prescription could damage your organs.
In addition to the medications indicated by the veterinarian, you could carry out the following advice:
- Constantly hydrate your dog with fresh water
- Avoid being in places where the air current passes
- Place it in a warm place, without humidity and that is very comfortable, with towels or blankets, where there are also no noises.
- Give him food that fills him with vitamins
- Do not let him be with other healthy animals,
- let him rest
- Constantly clean everything your dog uses
How do viruses pass from one species to another?
According to the data recorded by specialists, it has been proven that the transfer of a flu between very dissimilar species, as could be cited in the case of avian flu, happens very quickly, multiplying the cases in a matter of a short time, even that new receptor species of the virus is more vulnerable to the condition.
For all this reason, diseases of this type are increasingly affecting the world and are directly responsible for many conditions; however, it should be noted that to date there is no complete clarity of the mechanism or process that these conditions follow. What has been proven is the fact that when it manifests itself in a new species it is usually fatal and many individuals are affected.
This is why we are very prone to the appearance of pandemics like the one the world is currently experiencing, Covid-19, which has rapidly infected millions of people and caused millions of deaths on all continents; The rapid form of expansion is usually one of the factors that is most often attacked when there is a transfer of virus from one species to another, seeking to isolate the carrier of said virus.
Is dog flu contagious to humans?
As already mentioned in a previous segment, there is no proven possibility that there is transmission of the flu in dogs to people, that is, the risk is minimal for humans, so you should not worry about possible contagion , you can continue pampering your dog the same as always.
The fact that there is no possible contagion is due to the fact that the strains do not resemble each other, therefore, there are no data that reflect any danger in this regard. Even though there are no data on this type of contagion, it is important to note that all viruses can mutate and even do so constantly, therefore, the one that occurs in dogs could mutate and be possible to infect humans in the future.
Specialists assure that people have little immunity to influenza A, so a pandemic is again a risk at the door, which is why it is always being studied in this regard, based on swine flu, avian flu and now Covid. -19; the future of the people being in the hands of the World Health Organization and other organizations of this nature.
How is dog flu transmitted or spread?
As with all flu, the canine flu is transmitted through the air, the microorganisms pass from one receptor to another, which occurs mostly through saliva, when I sneeze or even when I bark, but these are not the only way of spreading, it can also occur with objects that have been infected and still have the virus alive, such as the cup where you drink water or feed.
There are certain places where there is a greater possibility of dogs becoming infected, such as mainly in kennels, since there are many and there is not all the hygiene security that is deserved, but it can also happen in parks, in squares, daycare centers and others. The contagion mostly occurs when the other dogs do not show any type of symptomatology, that is, in the process of incubation of the virus.
Can dog flu be prevented?
The truth is that until now this fact is very complicated, it could be considered the fact of reducing the possibility of risk but not avoiding it completely; It could be achieved through certain actions, such as not having it near dogs that have the flu, or taking it to public places, but it is counterproductive, since they need to socialize and perform physical activities to be in good health.
Any virus has the ability to be alive on people's hands for twelve hours, on the fabric of clothing for a full day, and on all types of surfaces for two full days. That said, to prevent possible contagion, it could be happily cleaned. the areas and elements where your pet often spends time.
Another aspect that can be taken into account as a possible preventive effect is the fact of having all the dog's vaccinations up to date, especially that of canine flu strains, keeping its immune system in perfect condition. It is usually done with a first vaccine with a subsequent reinforcement that is placed fifteen days or a month after having placed the first. After that time it will only be given once a year.
Before concluding, it is important to emphasize certain points:
There are currently two strains of this type of dog flu.
- It is usually a highly contagious condition.
- There is still no possibility of contagion from dogs to humans and vice versa.
- There are great possibilities of virus mutation, so it could be transmissible in the future.
- Mostly this condition is not serious, but there could be cases where it is complicated and affects the dog more.
- The symptoms will depend on how the respiratory system works
- The contagion is carried out by the air
- There are more chances of contagion when you are in the incubation period of the virus.
- Having said all this, remember that you should not self-medicate the dog, you should always consult the veterinarian with any questions to avoid complications or damage to the dog's well-being.