Posted on 10/23/2009 10:23:20 PM PDT by MamaDearest
FISHERSVILLE — Dog influenza has come to the Shenandoah Valley.
An Augusta County veterinarian last week confirmed the first area case of canine influenza, H3N8, a virus informally documented by the Virginia Veterinarian Medicine Association only six times in state history. “We knew it was coming,” Cedarcrest Animal Clinic veterinarian William Olkowski said Friday.
Considered a horse virus until late 2003, H3N8 mutated and began to spread among dogs, Olkowski said. The local confirmation is not cause for alarm, he said, but vaccination is recommended for some dogs. Owners of dogs that come into contact with other dogs at shows, parks or events might want the vaccine, Olkowski said.
His is one of two area clinics already providing the vaccine, which costs about $20 and requires two appointments over a four-week period. The emerging virus can be difficult to differentiate from other cold symptoms and “kennel cough,” Olkowski said. It has been fatal in 5 to 8 percent of cases.
The Virginia State Veterinarian’s office does not track H3N8, a spokeswoman said, deferring questions to the state veterinarian medicine association.
Ping.
What’s next? ManBearPig Flu?
Woof
What’s the difference between bird flu and swine flu?
With bird flu you need tweetments and with swine flu you just use an oinkment. :)
Ba-dump-bump!
Whatever type of flu makes drug companies a gigantic profit is the answer to that one. Did you see the cost of the dog flu immunization was a 20-spot? Add that to the vet office call bill and the next thing we'll see is the dems attempting to tack on a pet-care addendum to the bogus health-care bill whereby they've enclosed themselves in the room with the closed door to show the world the hypocracy of their "transparency." Everything they are doing is the polar opposite of what Obama promised us pre-election and afterwards. he then wonders why people are not amenable to a bill cloaked in secrecy that will make our national debt gigantic and our money worthless.
LOL
My dogs are just going to have to suffer through it...
What aboutnthe squirells will they be affected or a bunny or two when cujo strikes
No shots for my guy.
Here’s an interesting coincidence, pigs and dogs are at the top of the list of Islam’s unclean animals. Hmmmm.
A crisis-weary public failed to go into full panic mode over H1N1 so now they’re repackaging it as a threat, not to your kids, but to your beloved pets.
Ain’t gonna work.
Pardon me, but...WHAT A CROCK!
It’s bad enough they instill panic about the Swine Flu for humans, go on and on about a pandemic, THEN have the nerve to charge $25 an injection!( I guess a big family just has to croak- or be accused of spreading a deadly virus if they can’t afford the $$)
Now they want us to believe there’s a reason to continue the scam with our pets. I’d like to know how much profit is being made on these injections. What are vets paying compared to what they’re charging? I think half the shots they get yearly now are unnecessary!
NO ONE loves their dog more than I do- he’s my baby- I’d do without food for him; but I’m not making him part of some experiment for a socialist government, no matter what scare tactics the media presents.
Yesterday I received a letter from my vet telling me of this dog flu and how wide spread it has become....could we please bring our dogs in for the vaccine...........and oh yes, by the way...unless your dogs are vaccinated you won’t be allowed to board your pets with us. They then implied that no kennel would be accepting pets unless vaccinated...
Yes...I’d say I better find someone to watch my dogs at home instead of a kennel when we go on vacation...or take them with me!
Yesterday I received a letter from my vet telling me of this dog flu and how wide spread it has become....could we please bring our dogs in for the vaccine...........and oh yes, by the way...unless your dogs are vaccinated you won’t be allowed to board your pets with us. They then implied that no kennel would be accepting pets unless vaccinated...
Yes...I’d say I better find someone to watch my dogs at home instead of a kennel when we go on vacation...or take them with me!
My thoughts exactly.
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