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Bringing home a new puppy is exciting for everyone in the family. In addition to having a new playmate to bond with, there is a certain excitement that comes along with puppy preparation. Purchasing toys, selecting the perfect food bowls that match the kitchen, picking out a cozy bed, and trying to figure out which collar and leash set best suits his personality are fun details when it comes to bringing the baby home.
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With the winter weather watering down both our gardens and our coats, the sniffles and coughs aren’t too far behind. While humans battle those pesky viruses and bacterial infections with vitamin C and other immunity boosters, their canines might be suffering the sniffly woes of the rain as well.
H1N1 continues to affect humans and recent reports show it possibly spreading to the four-legged and furry. Other diseases like canine influenza or parvovirus are dangerous diseases to stay cautious of. Maintaining your dog’s optimum immunity will help him fend these diseases off. For this reason, pups might benefit from an immunity boost just as much as their humans.
“As with any disease caused by a virus, treatment is largely supportive. Good animal care practices and nutrition assist dogs in mounting an effective immune response,” says the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
by Suzan Gridley, i Love Dogs
A vaccination to prevent canine influenza has been given a one-year conditional license to address what the U.S. Department of Agriculture assesses as an emergency situation. Testing of the vaccine indicates it can reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding.
The Canine Influenza Virus, also called CIV, is thought to have mutated from an equine influenza. Being a new strain, therefore, means that 100% of all exposed dogs will become infected. Fortunately, about half of infected dogs will clear the infection through the production of their own antibodies. Of those who do experience the flu-like symptoms of fever, cough, and nasal discharge, a small percentage will develop pneumonia. The death rate from CIV complications is approximately 5%.
