Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) What you need to know about CIV!!!

Canine Influenza Virus (CIV)What you need to know about CIV!!! 

Dog Flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by two different canine influenza viruses. Unless a dog has already had the illness and recovered, almost every dog exposed to the virus will become infected. Two different strains of canine influenza virus (CIV)  have been isolated in the US. CIV, H3N8 was first reported in 2003, and CIV, H3N2 emerged in March 2015.  Dogs have no natural immunity to canine influenza virus. Therefore, dogs at risk should be vaccinated against both strains. 

What is Canine Influenza Virus?

Dog Flu Outbreak Map
Click to see CIV's outbreak path. 

Canine influenza virus is a very contagious respiratory disease that infects dogs. This virus emerged in the US in early 2004 in the form of the viral strains- H3N8. Vaccinations were created for this strain. In 2015 a new strain developed, H3N2. Today, confirmed cases of H3N8 & H3N2 have been found in all but 4 of our United States. This highly contagious disease began as an isolated episode of respiratory disease in one state, and has now become a nationwide health concern for all dogs. In Florida we have seen cases of both strain since 2016.

The current vaccine available protects again both CIV strands. 

What does CIV cause?

CIV causes a respiratory infection in dogs that is also known as “dog flu”. Common symptoms include sneezing, nasal discharge, and frequent coughing that can last for 2 weeks or more. Many dogs have a fever, decreased appetite, and lethargy during the first few days of illness. Some dogs have more serious disease and pneumonia that requires hospital care

How do dogs get CIV infection?

CIV is spread by direct contact with a sick dog and by contact with an environment or people that are contaminated with the virus. Coughing dogs produce invisible virus‐containing mists that travel more than 20 feet in the air, facilitating rapid spread of virus over distances. This type of virus transmission contributes to a rapid increase in coughing dogs in a kennel situation. The virus can survive in the environment (kennel surfaces, food/water bowls, collars/ leashes, toys, beds) or on people’s clothing and hands for 12 to 24 hours before it dies. It is easily killed by hand washing with soap and water, normal laundering of clothing and bedding, and washing food/water bowls and toys with soap and water.

 

What dogs are at risk for CIV?

Most dogs do not have immunity to CIV. This means that dogs of any breed, age or health status will likely be infected if they are exposed to the virus. Dogs at most risk for exposure are those with a social lifestyle and participate in group events or are housed in communal facilities, especially in communities where CIV is circulating. This includes dogs in boarding kennels, day care centers, shelters, dog shows, veterinary clinics, pet stores, grooming parlors, etc. 

What if my dog is diagnosed with CIV?

Dog Flu infection should be suspected in dogs with persistent cough, those with nasal discharge, fever, pneumonia or other clinical signs of more severe respiratory illness.

Most dogs recover at home without any complications. However, because of the increasing prevalence of Dog Flu, the rapid spread of the infection among dogs, and the potential for up to 20% of dogs to have a severe disease course, the most important aspect of care is to keep your dog isolated from all other dogs for 4 weeks. While dogs recover from illness in about 2 weeks, they can remain contagious to other dogs for up to 4 weeks. If you have other dogs or cats in the house, then all of them must be isolated in the home for 4 weeks. Your veterinarian will provide instructions on how to monitor the health of all the pets and when to call about concerns.

The 20% of dogs that progress to a more severe disease course like pneumonia typically have decreased appetite, are very lethargic, and may have labored breathing. These dogs likely need special hospital care for recovery. The mortality rate of canine influenza has been reported to range from 1% to 8% in puppies and older dogs.

What can I do to protect my dog against CIV?

The most important step is to vaccinate your dog against the canine influenza viruses. Just like human flu vaccines, the CIV vaccine may not completely prevent infection but will make it less likely. Additionally, if a vaccinated dog does get infected, the disease is likely to be more mild and of shorter duration. The vaccine can also protect against pneumonia. Talk to your veterinarian about vaccination against CIV and other canine influenza viruses.

Be careful about exposing your dog to events or facilities with other dogs. Knowledge and common sense are your best defenses against canine influenza.

 

What you need to know about CIV!!

H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) Fact Sheet

What you need to know about CIV!!!

What is Canine Influenza Virus?

Canine influenza virus is a very contagious influenza virus that infects dogs. This virus emerged in the US in early 2004 in the form of the viral strains- H3N8. Vaccinations were created for this strain. In 2015 a new strain developed, H3N2. Confirmed cases were seen throughout the US. Today, confirmed cases of H3N2 have been found in Florida.  It has already infected thousands of dogs in more than 30 states and has been seen in 20+ cases in So. Florida. The current vaccine protects again both CIV strands.  CIV has also infected cats but there is no evidence that it can infect people.
 
What does CIV cause?
H3N2 CIV causes a respiratory infection in dogs that is also known as “dog flu”. Common symptoms include sneezing, nasal discharge, and frequent coughing that can last for 2 weeks or more. Many dogs have a fever, decreased appetite, and lethargy during the first few days of illness. Some dogs have more serious disease and pneumonia that requires hospital care.  CIV can cause respiratory infections in cats too. The cats start sneezing and have nasal discharge but usually do not cough.

How do dogs get CIV infection?
H3N2 CIV is spread by direct contact with a sick dog and by contact with an environment or people that are contaminated with the virus. Coughing dogs produce invisible virus‐containing mists that travel more than 20 feet in the air, facilitating rapid spread of virus over distances. This type of virus transmission contributes to a rapid increase in coughing dogs in a kennel situation. The virus can survive in the environment (kennel surfaces, food/water bowls, collars/ leashes, toys, beds) or on people’s clothing and hands for 12 to 24 hours before it dies. It is easily killed by hand washing with soap and water, normal laundering of clothing and bedding, and washing food/water bowls and toys with soap and water.
 
What dogs are at risk for CIV?
Most dogs do not have immunity to H3N2 CIV. This means that dogs of any breed, age or health status will likely be infected if they are exposed to the virus. Dogs at most risk for exposure are those with a social lifestyle and participate in group events or are housed in communal facilities, especially in communities where H3N2 CIV is circulating. This includes dogs in boarding kennels, day care centers, shelters, dog shows, veterinary clinics, pet stores, grooming parlors, etc. Dogs that mostly stay at home and walk around the neighborhood are at low risk.

What should I do if my dog has canine flu symptoms?
First of all, your dog may have a respiratory infection caused by other respiratory viruses and not H3N2 CIV. This can only be determined by a diagnostic test performed by your veterinarian. Here are the important steps to follow:
Call your veterinarian. Do not go to the clinic without calling first. Your dog may have a very contagious infection that can easily spread to other dogs in the clinic.
Tell the veterinarian the following information:
•Your dog’s symptoms and when they started.
•If your dog has been to a dog show, boarding facility, dog day care center, dog park, grooming parlor, or another event with other dogs within the past week.
• If your dog was around coughing dogs in the past week.
The veterinarian will provide specific instructions on when and how to see your dog.
Talk with your veterinarian about performing a diagnostic test to determine if your dog has the flu virus or another virus. This is very important to the care of your dog. The test is performed on swabs of the nose and throat that are submitted to an outside laboratory.

What if my dog is diagnosed with CIV?
Most dogs recover at home without any complications. The most important aspect of home care is to keep your dog isolated from all other dogs for 4 weeks. While dogs recover from illness in about 2 weeks, they can remain contagious to other dogs for up to 4 weeks. If you have other dogs or cats in the house, then all of them must be isolated in the home for 4 weeks. Your veterinarian will provide instructions on how to monitor the health of all the pets and when to call about concerns.
About 20% of dogs can progress to pneumonia. Dogs with pneumonia typically have decreased appetite, are very lethargic, and may have labored breathing. Call your veterinarian if you see these signs. These dogs likely need special hospital care for recovery. Fortunately, the mortality rate for H3N2 CIV is low.

What can I do to protect my dog against CIV?
You should also remain aware of any information about confirmed documentation of H3N2 CIV in your community or communities where you take your dog. If this virus is present in the community, then be careful about exposing your dog to events or facilities with other dogs. Knowledge and common sense are your best defenses against canine influenza.

The most important step is to vaccinate your dog against the canine influenza viruses. Just like human flu vaccines, the H3N2 CIV vaccine may not completely prevent infection but will make it less likely. Additionally, if a vaccinated dog does get infected, the disease is likely to be more mild and of shorter duration. The vaccine can also protect against pneumonia. Talk to your veterinarian about vaccination against CIV and other canine influenza viruses.
 
Source: University of Florida l College of Veterinary Medicine l 2017

June Patient of the Month- Max!!!

***images attached to the end of this blog may be too graphic for some***another warning is present on the scroll prior to images***

Max, a one year old French Bulldog was discovered by Jamie’s Rescue at Miami Dade Animal Shelter after being abandoned. A regular client of Dr. Shapiro, Jamie brought Max to the clinic for a full evaluation. As his photos indicate, Little Max was a bit worse for wear when he came to our door.  In addition to other ‘expected’ challenges that we anticipate with abandoned animals, little Max had many other things going on. After his exam (and a some extra love from Dr. Shapiro’s technician, Dalila) Max was diagnosed with demodex (mange), a deep ulcer in his Left eye and viral papillomas. 

Demodex is a collection of tiny parasitic mites that live in or near the hair follicles of mammals. It is a common infestation for dogs and diagnosed by analyzing a small skin sample under a microscope. A dip, which includes a highly concentrated insecticide, is most often used to treat demodex however in some cases drugs like Ivermectins can be used. In each case, supervision by a veterinarian is highly recommended because of the potential for side effects.

For Max’s demodex, Dr. Shapiro prescribed oral medication which, while treatment would span several weeks, started the healing process immediately. However the ulcer in Max’s right eye would prove to be more challenging. The viral papillomas growing on his face were too close to his eyes and were obstructing the ulcer and causing additional irritation. With no room for medication to access the area, no healing was possible.   Max was in need of some intensive care.  But, before that could begin, the papillomas had to be addressed. 

One treatment for papillomas, is to remove the growths and begin antibiotic treatment; such as azithromycin which has been shown to hasten resolution of papillomas. Since the ulcer in Max’s eye was covered by the papillomas removing them was the necessary next step. Additionally, Max was an intact male so a routine neuter was on the list. Since the demodex was localized primarily to his head and upper body surgery was possible sooner rather than later. 

Dr. Shapiro and Jamie decided to hospitalize Max to begin treatment. After a day of medical treatment, surgery was scheduled. Dr. Shapiro performed a simple neuter and then went to the task of removing all of the papilloma masses from his eye, his mouth and his face. His recovery from surgery was smooth and for the next 2 weeks Max was our guest, undergoing intensive isolated care which included hourly medications for his eye, intense antibiotic therapy and pain medications. 

 After 14 days of treatment by our dedicated day and night crew, Max looked like a new dog. While his spirit stayed high throughout his stay his skin and eyes were now on the mend. His outside were now more reflective of his puppy like attitude.

 Today, Max is nearly fully healed. He has continued treatment for the demodex and continues to stay away from other dogs while the papillomas resolve but he is by all other accounts: back to normal and looking for his fur-ever home.

It is always a pleasure to be able to see the recovery of a pet that just needs some TLC. Time, love and compassion paired with great medical know how works wonders. We are so pleased with his progress and so happy to highlight him as our June Patient of the Month!

 

**images below are of Max before treatment of the Viral Papillomas***They may be too graphic for some****

Papillomas covering the ulcer in his eye.

Demodex is visible around his eye as well.

Canine Viral Papillomas!!

Papillomas of the Skin

These notes are provided to help you understand the diagnosis or possible diagnosis of cancer in your pet. For general information on cancer in pets ask for our handout "What is Cancer". Your veterinarian may suggest certain tests to help confirm or eliminate diagnosis, and to help assess treatment options and likely outcomes. Because individual situations and responses vary, and because cancers often behave unpredictably, science can only give us a guide. However, information and understanding about tumors and their treatment in animals is improving all the time.

This can be a very worrying time. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian.

What is a papilloma of the skin?

Papillomas are benign, sometimes multiple, tumors caused by viruses. They are commonly known as "warts". The tumors often disappear spontaneously because the animal slowly develops immunity to them. Some papillomas may need to be removed surgically because they have become inflamed or infected, or bleed. They are permanently cured by total surgical removal and do not spread to other parts of the body, although there may be multiple tumors.

A squamous papilloma resembles a viral papilloma, but is without evidence of viral infection.

What do we know about the cause?

The reason why a particular pet may develop this, or any tumor, is not straightforward. Cancer is often the culmination of a series of circumstances that come together for the unfortunate individual.

After invading the cells, papilloma viruses insert their genetic information into the host cell's DNA (nucleic acid) and upset the normal regulatory mechanisms of cell division, so that the cell divides abnormally and more frequently. The virus activates growth-promoting genes in the DNA (oncogenes), at the same time it inactivates suppressor genes that would normally limit cell proliferation and alters the genes that regulate normal, programmed cell death.

There are many different types of papilloma virus and they occur in all species of animals, including people. Each species of animal has its own viruses and their related tumors. One of the best known is the verruca of human feet (plantar wart).

Why has my pet developed this tumor?

Your dog or cat has been infected with one of these papilloma viruses. Normal animals and people carry many viruses asymptomatically (without any clinical signs). Over 130 subtypes of papilloma virus have been identified in people and eighty of these have been fully gene-sequenced. However, we know little about canine and feline papillomaviruses. Only two subtypes have been fully characterized in the dog and two subtypes are recognized in cats.

"Papilloma viruses... can survive for long periods in the environment."

Sometimes the viral infection is recent but in other cases, the immune system in an infected animal becomes less competent for some reason. In these cases, a papilloma virus that has been carried by that animal for a long time is then able to induce tumors. Papilloma viruses are very resistant to adverse conditions so can survive for long periods in the environment outside an animal. They gain access to the body when the skin becomes softened by moisture, through cuts and abrasions, or with the assistance of ticks or biting insects (fleas, mosquitoes, et cetera).

Is this a common tumor?

Papillomas are uncommon in cats but common in dogs. Clinical syndromes include multiple oral (mouth) papillomas in young dogs, solitary cutaneous (skin) papillomas in dogs of any age, venereal (genital) papillomas, eyelid or conjunctival papillomas and fibropapillomas. There are probably different viruses associated with different sites and in young and old animals.

In dogs, we see most of these tumors on the feet, or around and in the oral cavity.

Skin papillomas in cats are usually flat and plaque-like (sometimes scaly). There is also a fibropapilloma or sarcoid in cats caused by a special subtype of papilloma virus.

How will this tumor affect my pet?

The lesions are usually inflamed polyps ("warts"), but they may be flat, scaly plaques or inward growing hard masses. They may ulcerate or bleed. The inward growing ones may cause pain, particularly if they are on the feet.

There may be some genetic subtypes of animals who fail to recognize viral protein antigens. In these animals, immunity cannot develop and the tumors persist. We do not know about genetically determined immunity in dogs - but some dogs have persistent tumors. Some viral papillomas in man are associated with cancer and papilloma viruses have been found in feline cancers (squamous cell carcinoma).

How is this tumor diagnosed? 

Clinically, most papillomas of the skin have a typical appearance, although the more common sebaceous tumors of dogs are very similar. Definitive diagnosis relies upon microscopic examination of the tumor. To obtain suitable samples of the tumor, your veterinarian may recommend one or more sampling techniques such as needle aspiration, punch biopsy and full excision of the tumor. Cytology is the microscopic examination of cell samples. This is used for rapid or preliminary screening tests, but accurate diagnosis usually requires microscopic examination of tissue (histopathology). Your veterinarian will submit the appropriate samples to a specialized laboratory where a veterinary pathologist will evaluate the tumor samples, make a diagnosis and predict the prognosis. Histopathology also rules out other diseases including more serious cancers.

What types of treatment are available?

Some of these tumors regress spontaneously but the usual treatment is surgical removal.

In humans, a topically applied immune-modifying agent that stimulates interferon production has successfully been used to treat papilloma virus lesions. It may have potential use in animals.

Can this tumor disappear without treatment?

Yes, the body's immune system can cause this type of tumor to regress in time (weeks to months).

 How can I nurse my pet?

Preventing your pet from scratching, licking or biting the papillomas will reduce itching, inflammation, ulceration, infection and bleeding. Any ulcerated area needs to be kept clean.

After surgery, you will need to keep the incision site clean and dry, and prevent your pet from by rubbing, licking, biting or scratching at it. Report any loss of sutures or significant swelling or bleeding to your veterinarian. If you require additional advice on post-surgical care, please ask.

When will I know if the tumor is permanently cured?

'Cured' has to be a guarded term in dealing with any cancer.

The histopathology report will give your veterinarian the diagnosis that helps to indicate how it is likely to behave. The veterinary pathologist usually adds a prognosis, which describes the probability of local recurrence or metastasis (distant spread). 

In healthy animals, the tumor is usually cured by surgery. If the viral infection persists because an animal has incomplete immunity, further tumors may develop. Rarely, the same site is affected by repeated re-growth of the tumor.

Are there any risks to my family or other pets?

"Although this is an infectious tumor, the viruses are species specific and not transmissible to humans."

No, although this is an infectious tumor, the viruses are species specific and not transmissible to humans. The tumors in dogs, cats and people are not related nor are they transmitted between species.

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Joan Rest, BVSc, PhD, MRCPath, MRCVS