Signs of the dog flu include:
* A soft, moist cough
* Low grade fever
* Yellow/green nasal discharge
* Rapid breathing of difficulty breathing
* High grade fever in severe cases
The canine influenza can cause mild to severe illness that may last 10 to 30 days. In most cases, the canine flu will act like any other viral infection, but there have been some cases of fatality caused by the virus.
It is very important to have your dog tested if you think that he has the flu. If you have more than one dog, you want to keep them separated, ad the dog flu is a highly contagious viral infection that is easily passed from dog to dog.
The virus is commonly misdiagnosed as kennel cough, as there is no 100% reliable test to prove the flu. But, there are serologic testing that can test for antibodies for the canine influenza virus as early as 7 days after seeing the first signs of illness. In some cases, blood will be taken within the first week and then within the second week to test for any changes in the antibodies.
If your vet thinks that your dog may have the dog flu (which is in no way related to the bird flu), he may set your dog on a course of antibiotics or just wait it out. It is a case-by-case basis as to how each vet treats each case.
There is a vaccine for the dog flu, and some vets will actually recommend it, especially if you have more than one dog in your household. Speak to your vet about the vaccine if you have any further questions.
If you're worried about other pets (non-canine) and people, keep in mind that canine influenza H3N8 has not been proven transmissible to other animals or humans. Dog to dog transfer is the only way the virus is transmissible, but you can actually carry the virus from one dog to another, which is why proper hygiene is important. Wash your hands before and after handling and caring for each dog, as you can carry the virus from your body to another dog without actually contracting the illness.
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