Veterinarians are warning Michigan dog parents to protect their pups from the rapidly spreading canine flu. According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), 49 cases have been reported from six Lower Peninsula counties in less than three weeks.
For comparison, the state had just nine cases of canine influenza in all of 2017.
Residents of Huron, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Ottawa and Wayne – the six counties that have reported cases of canine flu – should take particular care to avoid public places where dogs congregate, including parks, doggy day cares and grooming salons.
Canine flu can be spread by direct dog-to-dog contact, sharing toys or bowls, through the air from a cough or sneeze, and can even be transferred on a human’s hands or clothes.
The respiratory illness is highly contagious with symptoms such as fever, lethargy, coughing, and discharge from the eyes and/or nose. If your dog displays any of these signs, officials from the MDARD ask that you keep them home to prevent spreading the virus.
While most cases of canine influenza are mild with dogs typically recovering within two to three weeks, more severe cases can occur, so be sure to contact your veterinarian.
For more information and the current case count, visit https://www.michigan.gov/animalprograms.
H/T to Detroit Free Press
