Influenza: Canine, Feline and Human H1N1 Part I

Have you heard about the recent Swine Flu case in cats and dogs?  The Influenza A Virus subtype H1N1, aka “swine flu”, has infected over 450,000 people in the United States, causing 10,000 deaths as of late December, 2009.  The H1N1 virus has crossed species and apparently infected both dogs (in China) and cats (in the States).  There have even been a few deaths in felines in this country (see the following blog).

I expect that few veterinarians will see, or recognize, dogs and cats with the H1N1 virus. Far more common nationally in dogs, although so far uncommon in Southern California, is the canine influenza virus, H3N8.  It was first recognized in Florida greyhounds in 2004.  It is suspected that the canine influenza virus was a mutation of the equine influenza virus, and is extremely contagious in dogs.