“Dog Flu” reported in Palm Beach County

“Dog Flu” reported in Palm Beach County

The first ever outbreak of the dog flu in Florida has been largely contained to north and central Florida, until now. Palm Beach County has their first confirmed case.

A patient in Palm Beach County was infected during a dog event in Georgia. She said the dog came home and spread the infection to their housemate. According to Dr. Jillian Sweet it was seen at a local emergency hospital, and other dogs in the community could now be exposed.

Symptoms include fever, coughing, lethargy, and sneezing. It’s rarely fatal, but highly contagious. If you think your dog may be infected it’s best to keep them isolated, and call the Vet before taking them anywhere.

Symptoms and Types of Canine Influenza

 

Dogs that are infected with the canine influenza virus may develop two different syndromes:

 

  1. Mild – These dogs will have a cough that is typically moist and can have nasal discharge. Occasionally, it will be more of a dry cough. In most cases, the symptoms will last 10 to 30 days and usually will go away on its own.
  2. Severe – Generally, these dogs have a high fever (above 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and develop signs very quickly. Pneumonia, specifically hemorrhagic pneumonia, can develop. The influenza virus affects the capillaries in the lungs, so the dog may cough up blood and have trouble breathing if there is bleeding into the alveoli (air sacs). Patients may also be infected with bacterial pneumonia, which can further complicate the situation.
TreasureCoast

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  • Posted 7 years ago

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