Your pets and the H1N1 Virus

Dog tests positive for Swine Flu in New York

PetMD is reporting that a male, mixed-breed dog in New York state has tested positive for the H1N1 virus.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Assocation (AVMA), the 13-year-old canine was "lethargic, coughing, not eating and had a fever." It was also confirmed that the dog's owner had a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus.  According to PetMD, the dog was treated and has since recovered.

The case was confirmed by IDEXX Laboratories who reported the dog negative for canine influenza (H3N8), but positive for H1N1.  According to a press release from IDEXX, H1N1 has been confirmed recently as the cause of respiratory disease in several ferrets and cats and has in two cases, resulted in death.  It is believed that the infections were contracted from infected owners.  Read the press release in its entirety here.

See the AVMA's FAQ on H1N1 and pets for more information. There is also extensive information about the virus and pets on the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) website here.  According to information updated by the CDC on December 16, 2009, evidence suggests that the infection found in the small pets (ferrets, cats and now, the one dog) was transmitted through contact with an ill owner/human.

There is still no evidence that H1N1 may be transmitted from animals to humans.

Should you contract H1N1 or are experiencing flu-like symptoms, the CDC suggests taking the same precautions with your pets that you take with other humans:

• Cover your mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing
• Wash your hands frequently
• Minimize contact with your pets until 24 hours after your fever is gone

If you or someone in your household has flu-like symptons and a pet is experiencing respiratory issues at the same time, contact your pet's veternarian.

There is currently no H1N1 vaccine available for pets.

Information is also available from the United States Department of Agriculture here.