Veterinarians Urge Vaccinations In Wake Of Dog Flu Outbreak

With more confirmed cases of a dog flu outbreak hitting Round Rock, veterinarians are strongly urging pet owners to vaccinate their pets.

The particular strain of canine influenza is known as H3N2, a highly contagious strain. An affected canine can spread the virus from a mere 20 feet away; its quick, two-to-five day incubation can last up to six weeks—the first three of which Is contagious—explains Texas Monthly in a virus primer.

The good news is that dog flu is rarely fatal. But it’s a very unpleasant business for affected dogs given the condition’s symptomatic coughing, lack of energy, appetite loss and fever.

“We now have the H3N2 canine influenza vaccine, so we recommend vaccinating any dogs that may be boarding or around other dogs at dog parks and doggie out facilities,” television station KXAN quoted Amber Breclaw, a veterinarian at Forest Creek Animal Hospital in Round Rock, as saying.

It takes a couple of booster shots to provide a desired immune response to the virus, the station reported.

“We can just advise that people keep their dogs home and away from other dogs if they are coughing or showing signs of the flu to avoid spreading the infection,” Breclaw added.

Humans cannot contract the virus, as it is only spread from dog to dog. But a coughing dog can spread the virus onto a person’s hands or clothes, where it can remain for 24 hours.

Another local veterinarian described steps her clinic is taking to combat the scourge.

“All of our dogs when they come here get a completely sanitized area,” said Vanessa Calibria of Barking Hound Village. In addition, each dog’s bowl are sanitized and washed by hand in a disinfectant after every meal.

“In the morning, we change out all their water buckets to make sure that they’re clean and we don’t double up any of our dogs,” Calibria added.

Round Rock joins a growing list of Central Texas cities where dog flu has been detected. Veterinarians previously reported confirmed cases in North Austin and Pflugerville.