Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) Fact Sheet
What is Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) and where did it come from?
CIV is influenza that occurs in dogs. In 2004, it was determined that equine influenza virus H3N8 was the cause of death for Greyhound race dogs suffering from a respiratory illness at a Florida racetrack. The exposure and transfer apparently occurred at horse racing tracks, where dog racing also occurred. This was the first evidence of influenza A virus causing disease in dogs.
Dogs have no natural immunity to this virus which is why this disease is transmitted so rapidly between individual dogs. When CIV is first introduced to a population, 100% of dogs will become infected. About 20% of those dogs, however, will show no clinical symptoms of infection, although they will continue to spread the disease. There is no evidence that the virus can be transferred to people, horses, cats, or other species.
How is CIV spread?
According to Dr. Michael Moyer, Director of Shelter Animal Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Vice President of the American Animal Hospital Association, a dog barking or coughing can spread CIV through the air up to 100 feet. Even something as innocent as nose to nose contact or by one dog sniffing an inanimate object that another dog had inadvertently left secretions on like a chair leg at the vet's office or on a fence between two dog households can spread the virus. Let's face it – dogs sniff; it's what they do!
- Incubation period: 2-5 days from exposure
- Peak Viral Shedding: 2-4 day post-infection, which means dogs are their most infectious prior to showing clinical signs.
Clinical Signs of CIV
Symptoms of CIV are often mistaken for kennel cough and can include:
- Coughing
- Fever
- Runny-nose
- Loss of appetite
10-20% of dogs may progress to a more severe infection such as pneumonia.
How is CIV diagnosed?
The only way to definitely diagnose CIV is to test a nasal or pharyngeal swab for the virus.
Is the CIV vaccine safe?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a conditional license to Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health for a canine influenza virus (CIV) vaccine in June 2009.
Studies indicate that the vaccine can reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding. The product is administered by injection, and is recommended for use in healthy dogs at six weeks of age or older as an aid in the control of disease associated with canine influenza virus infection.
No side effects were reported in clinical trials.
How many shots does my dog need to be protected?
To be fully protected from CIV, dogs should have the vaccine shot and one booster approximately 2-3 weeks later.
How do you treat CIV once a dog is infected?
Dogs that have contracted CIV may need aggressive support such as IV fluid therapy and oxygen therapy. It’s also important to treat for secondary infections such as pneumonia. Unfortunately, even with aggressive treatment, some dogs (such as older dogs or dogs with a compromised immune system) will succumb to the disease.
