********Dog Owners*****New Dog Flu*****

Lots of dog lovers are worried these days. Experts say the flu is spreading steadily through the nation's dogs, with no vaccine available to curb it. Perhaps 5 percent of its victims are dying.

Researchers recently found to their surprise that the virus had crossed over from horses to dogs, striking greyhounds at racetracks in 11 states. Now it has been found in pets, with cases documented in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Washington state.

"One-hundred percent of dogs will be susceptible," said Edward Dubovi, director of the animal virology lab at Cornell University. "I would expect to see this infection moving thorough groups of dogs until a large percentage gets infected and there are a lot of immune dogs."

Cynda Crawford, a veterinary immunologist at the University of Florida, said researchers are getting positive readings on 30 percent to 40 percent of the blood and tissue samples sent in by veterinarians who think they might be treating a dog with influenza. The symptoms include a cough, low-grade fever and a runny nose.

Exactly how many dogs have died is unclear. Crawford said many of the animals were young and otherwise healthy.

Many pet owners and veterinarians have been fooled because some of the symptoms mimic a common, less dangerous bacterial infection known as kennel cough.

As with human influenza, dog flu is most easily contracted in gathering places - kennels, dog shows, animal shelters, even dog runs in parks.

That has resulted in a lot of lonely dogs, as pet owners keep them home to avoid the flu. Several days after the kennel in Chestnut Ridge reopened, there were just six dogs in "doggie day care," down from the usual 17, and just 50 boarding, down from 150, said manager Kelly Kurash.

The suburban New York kennel had closed Sept. 10 after staffers realized that the illness going around was not kennel cough. Dogs were sent home or to hospitals, and one sheepdog died a few days later.

"We knew we were dealing with something more serious," said Deborah Bennetts, spokeswoman for the Best Friends chain, based in Norwalk, Conn. "It seemed to be spreading and some dogs were getting seriously ill."

Tests on the dogs confirmed the new virus.

Best Friends had the entire building disinfected and changed the air conditioner filters. When the kennel reopened Sept. 30, some dogs were turned away. At the 42 Best Friends kennels in 18 states, "we're not allowing any dog that has boarded within the last two weeks or has been at a dog show or some kind of group setting like doggie day care," Bennetts said.

Dubovi said researchers are at work on a vaccine, but it could be months before it becomes available.

Some vets fear another upswing in cases at Thanksgiving and Christmas, when, as in the late summer, many people go away and put their dogs in kennels.

10/14/05 13:51 EDT

((((( Pat )))))

Thanks for the info. I had no idea! I'll keep an eye on my furry baby!

Petunia

Thanks for the info Pat. That is scary stuff.

UGH Pat thanks I am glad me and my boy pretty much keep to ourselves

when i lived at the other house, fayedy got kennel cough. i couldn't imagine that. but the vet told me that another dog probably came down our alley and she contacted it from him. at this house, no one ever comes down the alley. there are no strays. none. well, if you don't count teddy jack and his escapades.

i even cook half of the dog's food. i don't trust commercial food. i cook brown rice, bones, a veggie mix and then mix dog food in with that. they are never sick. i avoid them having contact at the park with other dogs. i go when i know no one else and their pets will be there. i believe in preventive. i don't think tippy went to the vet ever except for his shots. i don't remember him being ill.

if my dog died id die too. thanks for the info.

I would freak if my dog got way sick..I have never had a dog with kennel cough or any of that......I would weep I love my dog so much

I'll have to keep my puppies away from the park. We'll exercise inside the house.
Thank you for this heads up. Hope everyone's dogs stay healthy and safe. (((((((((Dogs)))))))))))))

Thanks for the information Pat. I worry so much about my Gracie baby.

Thanks for the info. Don't want my buddy sick.
lrks