In The News: Canine Influenza Virus Vaccine

Some of our clients have read the recent New York Times article and had questions on the soon to be released canine influenza virus (CIV) vaccine from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. The NY Times article has a summary of the canine flu, its clinical signs and treatment so I will not repeat them here except to remind us that in most dogs, the disease is self-limiting and/or is treatable with appropriate medical intervention. Its devastating effect is more likely seen in situations where a lot of dogs are housed or kept together (i.e. boarding kennels / doggy daycare, animal shelters, or even veterinary clinics where infected dogs may pass through) because it would mean risk of widespread contamination and possible interruption of services. But on a smaller scale, as it pertains to you (and your canine companion), CIV is often treatable with timely supportive care. Do not dismiss it as "just a cough." Contact your family veterinarian to have your dog evaluate and treat if needed.

Do we (will we) recommend the canine influenza virus vaccine?

No. At this time, most of our canine patients are not in the at-risk population. We are not considered in an endemic area for CIV. That does not mean CIV is not in Southern California, just that it's not commonly reported. As CIV becomes more prevalent in our community OR if certain dogs have higher exposure (i.e. travels to dog shows, etc...), we will re-evaluate our recommendation and vaccinate if indicated.

If a boarding facility requires the CIV vaccine for boarding, we will talk to the facility management (so we can get an idea if CIV is present locally); we will defer to their requirement. Management of the boarding facilities know their husbandry practices, are aware of the condition of their other boarders, and have knowledge of whether their facility was exposed to CIV. We would not want our patients to board unvaccinated in a facility where CIV is a concern to management.

The canine influenza vaccine does not prevent the disease; it lessens the effect of the disease. The conditional license issued by APHIS listed the vaccine as an "aid in the control of disease associated with canine influenza virus infection, type A, subtype H3N8." The vaccine can reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions. It can also reduce the duration of clinical signs
(i.e. coughing) and viral shedding, hence lowering the risk of contamination. But, again, it does not prevent infection or its clinical signs.

The canine influenza virus was identified in 2004. If you recall, the "Swine Flu" (H1N1) in humans was a concern because it was a new strain that the general human population had no prior exposure, no immunity. Similarly, when CIV was identified in 2004 as a novel pathogen to the general canine population, speculation surfaced that the disease will quickly spread through the canine community. In 2006, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) called for development of a CIV vaccine due to its novel pathogen status.

Fortunately, CIV has not been as devastating as we fear. "Canine Flu" was often in pet-related news in 2004-2005. AVMA had a guideline to help deal with the "emerging disease." When CIV did not become as widespread as predicted, it fell out of the limelight --- until now, with the upcoming release of the vaccine. We need to keep in mind that CIV vaccine is not intended for all dogs, just those at risk based on their lifestyle. There is still much that we do not understand about viral mutation. Indiscriminatory widespread use of a vaccine in a low-risk population may inadvertently cause more harm in the future, not only to dogs, but also to other species including humans.

We may hear more about CIV outbreaks as we approach the release of the CIV vaccine. For those unfortunate areas, families, and dogs, the CIV vaccine may be a life-and-money-saving measure as it can reduce the duration of clinical signs and decrease viral shedding (e.g. decrease spreading of the infection). The vaccine may especially be helpful in animal shelters with confirmed cases of CIV or at risk for CIV. For the rest of us who are not at risk, it is better that we are vigilant of clinical signs and be aware of our lifestyle and exposure risk. Be aware of where we take our dogs; ask questions of the management.

One of the reasons we moved to a by-appointment only policy was to better control patient and traffic flow. With careful scheduling, we are able to minimize exposure between ill and healthy pets in the lobby. If you suspect your dog was exposed to CIV or is coughing, please inform the staff when you schedule the appointment. Even if your dog is otherwise doing fine, it is important that you mention your concern to the person scheduling the appointment in case precautionary measures are needed. This applies to any medical condition that may be contagious (sarcoptes / "scabies", ringworm, feline upper respiratory infection, etc...), not just canine influenza.

Remember that the prevalence of CIV may be different in your area. Based on their services, such as an on-site boarding facility, it may even be different among veterinary clinics in the same city. Contact your family veterinarian for information and recommendation specific to your locale.