New dog flu ramping up again:

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/New-Dog-Flu-Strain-Moves-Into-Texas-362879381.html

Amy I read a similar article, however, no where have I actually read on how it is transmitted. Do you know if an infected dog transmits it through coughing and saliva? Like the cold is transmitted with humans? Or does it just appear? My two girls have not been exposed to any dogs recently, so is keeping them home as safe as getting the vaccine? Ugh, just another thing to worry about. Thank you for posting, and if you have any additional info would gladly appreciate it!

From last years report, I believe there has to be some sort of contact with an infected dog - but, I believe they are contagious BEFORE they show signs of illness. And contact can be a water bowl, kennel surfaces etc. But at least last year, the vaccine at best only reduced symptoms for the most part, did not necessarily prevent illness. This article seems to say there are 2 new vaccines.

Quick call to my vet, who's normally pretty sharp when it comes to things like this. We have tourists who come out here thinking they'll take their dogs into the wilds of the Big Bend parks ... not gonna happen! so she ends up boarding them.

There have been no cases - even symptomatically - west of San Antonio and that was one dog who had come in from Chicago. From her reading, the vaccines being given are based on last years outbreak (and flu virus mutates rapidly, so last years antivirus might curtail some symptoms). Since my dogs (as are Renee's, I think) mostly at home, I'll stay un-vaccinated unless the virus spreads further west.

Thanks Al, I had read that it was in the Paint Rock area, which is west of San Antonio, but I may have read about it out of a Paint Rock news source and confused it to being in the Paint Rock area, which is slightly south of me, but scary close, under 100 miles away, maybe under 75 miles. Like Al, we stay close to home, I know Sofie has all her shots, but I feel more confident going to places like Petsmart once the kids are over 6 months old. So we have another 5 weeks to go. So me too, I will go un-vaccinated, unless it gets closer, or we want to go to a dog heavy environment, not likely to happen, lol. Plus, I highly doubt my vet has the vaccine. And will try giving my girls another rabies shot or something, haha.

MiyasMomma wrote:

Thanks Al, I had read that it was in the Paint Rock area, which is west of San Antonio, but I may have read about it out of a Paint Rock news source and confused it to being in the Paint Rock area, which is slightly south of me, but scary close, under 100 miles away, maybe under 75 miles. Like Al, we stay close to home, I know Sofie has all her shots, but I feel more confident going to places like Petsmart once the kids are over 6 months old. So we have another 5 weeks to go. So me too, I will go un-vaccinated, unless it gets closer, or we want to go to a dog heavy environment, not likely to happen, lol. Plus, I highly doubt my vet has the vaccine. And will try giving my girls another rabies shot or something, haha.

A note on going to Petsmart with the dogs - our state H2M2 had some sort of gathering at either a Petco or Petsmart (we didn't go, their activities are at the other end of the state.) A few days after, several members started reporting Bordetella infections, I think, even including 1 who was currently vaccinated. They are assuming it was picked up at the store.

Thanks for the heads up Amy. Petsmart is about a twice a year thing for us, lol, it's a way to incorporate socialization amongst strange pets and people. It's 65 miles one way, so I will just avoid it for the time being.