Christ Yoder
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VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (WBRC) – Veterinarians in our area are seeing an influx of sick dogs into their clinics.
Doctors have said that canine flu, also known as canine flu, is spreading, but you can take steps to prevent your dog from catching it.
Dr Kylie Harmon of Pet Wellness Animal Hospital in Vestavia Hills said dogs have been showing up at animal clinics with symptoms including coughing, sneezing and hacking since the start of the summer.
She said it’s often misdiagnosed as kennel cough, but it’s really canine flu, a contagious respiratory disease found in dogs.
Some animal shelters like the Greater Birmingham Humane Society have suspended all dog adoptions after several animals tested positive for canine flu.
And some animal clinics are not allowing any pets into their facilities and are treating them outside until further notice.
Dr. Harmon said thankfully Pet Wellness hasn’t seen any cases of canine flu yet and believes it’s because their patients are vaccinated.
“The flu shot would be for dogs that are housed a lot, they come to daycare a lot that stuff and so in terms of the shot it would give one shot, you give one shot and about 3 to 4 weeks later , you would boost it. What the vaccine will do is reduce the risk of a dog becoming infected. If a dog was infected, but had a flu shot, their clinical signs would be less severe,” Dr. Harmon said.
And if you’re wondering about the costs of a canine flu vaccine, Dr. Harmon said it was a canine distemper and kennel cough vaccine package at Pet Wellness for a total of $60.
After that, it’s an annual booster, which will cost you around $35.
Doctors have said that the risk of your dog dying from the flu is very low.
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