Cold and Flu Season for Canines

Do you ever have days where you feel like this?

You just don't want to get out of bed. You feel tired, lethargic and you're thinking you might be coming down with a cold or flu. It happens to all of us... unless you live in a bubble. It also happens to dogs.

Canine Influenza is a virus that is transmitted from dog to dog. Humans cannot become infected. Symptoms are similar to human flu: coughing, sneezing, runny nose and fatigue. Sometimes dogs can be asymptomatic (they carry the virus, but show no symptoms). If you suspect your dog is under the weather, please take them to the vet. Although, canine flu is rarely serious, it can become serious if not treated properly: high temperature, difficulty breathing, pneumonia and/or bleeding in the lungs. Plus, you will want to rule out any other medical issues that are not the flu. Once your dog has officially been diagnosed with the flu, your vet will decide the appropriate treatment: rest, lost of fluids, maybe medication...rest...more rest... and quarantined to the house with no contact to other dogs until they recover. There is a vaccine, but the vaccine won't help if your dog already has the flu. It's similar to a human flu shot, your dog will need to get the shot before the flu season starts and it will not promise you a long, happy, virus free, bounding, slobbering through snow drifts winter...it just eases the blow to your pup's body.

Please remember that if your dog is under the weather, vomiting or has diarrhea, please keep them at home until they get better. Also remember that if your dog does get a cold or flu, like humans, these things happen sometimes.  The only way you can be completely sure your dog will not catch a virus is to isolate them from all dog contact and that would be a pretty lonely life. We at Bark City work diligently to keep our facility clean: Our facility is set up with 3 different air circulation systems (one for the standard side, one for the enrichment program, and one for the training room), we spray down and disinfect all of our yards twice a day and disinfect all indoor space and toys daily, we have also laid down our turf correctly with proper drainage (read here on why that's important). Even with all our effort, sometimes those asymptomatic dogs sneak past. 

As the cold and flu season sets upon us (and our canine companions), let us prepare the best we can. Bone broth and kleenexes anyone? 

This dog isn't really sick. He is just really tired from playing too much at Bark City.