If you are a dog owner, take note of the potential risk of a new strain of canine influenza (H3N2) that has been reported in King County. With the high number of dogs in Seattle and on Queen Anne, it is advised that you be vigilant if your dog interacts with other dogs or visits places frequented by other dogs. Public Health Seattle & King County has issued a notice about the canine influenza:
Here’s a comment from Seattle & King County veterinarian Beth Lipton about cases in King County:
“During the month of December 2015, dogs at an area boarding and dog daycare facility began getting sick with respiratory symptoms, primarily cough. The facility owner estimates about 80-90 dogs got sick. The facility self-closed and implemented isolation procedures to help contain the outbreak. Recently laboratory tests from two dogs that had contact with an ill dog who’d been at the facility were found to be positive for H3N2 canine influenza.”
More information, including the image with key symptoms to the right, is available on the Seattle Dog Spot blog – a must-read for dog owners. The strain is extremely contagious, with dogs showing symptoms within 24 hours of exposure. Here’s the rundown of exposure risks from Seattle Dog Spot:
“It can be spread by direct contact, contaminated objects like hands and clothes, and through air droplets, which can travel up to 20 feet or more. The virus can live in the environment for about 2 days and on hands and on clothing for up to 24 hours.”
According to Public Health Seattle & King County, dogs are most likely to be exposed “at places where dogs congregate such as dog parks/beaches, dog daycare and boarding facilities, grooming facilities, and veterinary clinics.”
Keep your pups safe and if they show symptoms, take them to the vet.