Doggie News

DANGER, DANGER
Top 10 Toxins

We've been doing some research here at The Dog Spot Petcare and would like to inform our doggie parents of the Top 10 Toxins in your home.  What may not be harmful to you or me, could potentially kill your pet.

1.   Antifreez - the sweet taste of this liquid can cause death
2.   Chocolate - a dogs body cannot break down dark baking chocolate
3.   Bleach
4.   Tylenol
5.   Watch batteries
6.   Moth balls
7.   Fabric softeners
8.   Mouthwash
9.   Peach Pits - they are not digestable and will cause blockage
10. Household plants - Poinsettas, Lilies, Ferns, Aloe and Ivy

If you believe your dog has gotten into any of the above, please seek medical attention from your vet right away!

Posted 11/16/11

Information on Canine Influenza Virus (Dog Flu)
(Taken From the Humane Society of the United States Website)

What is canine flu?
Canine influenza is a newly identified respiratory illness of dogs.  It is caused by a virus related to the horse flu virus.  Because canine flu is an emerging disease, dogs have no natural immunity to it.  Nearly all dogs exposed to the flu virus will get infected, but not all will have clinical (that is, visible) signs of the flu.  Therefore, even dogs without clinical signs can pass the virus to others because they may be infected with it.

Why haven't I heard about canine flu before now?
Canine flu is new.  Initial cases of respiratory disease outbreaks were reported at U.S. greyhound racetracks in 2004.  It took many months for the researchers to isolate, identify, and characterize the virus and to prove that the virus was the cause of the respiratory illness in the greyhounds.  In early 2005, the disease was identified in pet dogs in Florida.  Cases have now been found in several states, Illinois is the 27th state with reported cases.

How would I know if my dog has the flu?
Dogs with flu have a fever, runny nose, and a cough.  Unfortunately, these symptoms are very similar to those of a well-known disease called "kennel cough."  However, kennel cough is a bacterial infection for which there is an effective vaccine.  They are alike in that both the flu and kennel cough can progress to pneumonia, and both must be treated by a veterinarian.  Since the flu looks like kennel cough, you cannot assume these symptoms are signs of kennel cough.  If your dog displays evidence of a fever, runny nose or cough, call your veterinarian immediately.

Can my dog die from this disease?
Most dogs make a full recovery from the flu within a few weeks, but there have been some cases reported in which the flu has progressed to pneumonia.  There have also been a few fatalities reported as a result of this virus.  Because this is a new disease, veterinary medicine does not yet have adequate information to predict the outcome in all dogs.  Therefore, we cannot stress enough the importance of getting veterinary care at the first sign of respiratory disease, as early care does seem related to recovery.

Is there a blood test for the flu?
Although a blood test has been developed to determine if a dog has been exposed to the canine flu virus, it is not available for rapid diagnosis.  Knowledge of exposure to the virus will not change how a sick dog is treated, since there is no antiviral drug available to shorten duration of the illness.

Is there a vaccine for canine flu?
A vaccine is now available against canine flu.  There is also a vaccine against kennel cough which we recommend for all dogs who have even minimal contact with other dogs, but that vaccine will not immunize your dog against canine flu.  There is no cure for canine flu, but there is a vaccine to help prevent contraction and there are some antibiotic medications that some dogs may benefit from taking for secondary infections as a result of the flu, as well as IV fluids in extreme cases.  Discuss these with your veterinarian if your dog becomes sick.