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Canine Influenza: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Pet

Influenza affects millions of people every year; people rush to get flu shots every winter, and many become gravely ill from influenza infection. What a lot of people don't know is that our pets can get the flu as well. We don't usually think of our dogs getting the flu or coming down with a cold, but it is much more common than you might think. The canine influenza virus known as H3N8, was discovered in 2004 and has been found in cases throughout the U.S. This virus is commonly referred to as dog flu, however, this term is not favored by experts in the field as it creates confusion and leads people to falsely associate it with viruses affecting humans such as the bird flu and swine flu. It is important to note that this is specifically a virus impacting canines and is not transferable to humans. While H3N8 is not a direct threat to people, it is of specific concern to dog owners. Here's what you need to know if you're a dog owner. Symptoms Symptoms of dog flu are m...