H3N2 Dog Flu Strain Moving Quickly Through Texas

A new strain of dog flu is running rampant across northern Texas and could spread to the Hill Country soon.

H3N2 was identified in early 2015 in the Midwest, with the most cases reported in the Chicago area. While the flu isn’t fatal, it can lead to pneumonia if untreated, and unfortunately, pneumonia in pups isn’t the easiest disease to treat.

Area “veterinarians are concerned because it can spread rapidly” and the virus typically lingers in the animal from two to five days before symptoms being to show. The dogs can also “be contagious with H3N2 for about three weeks,” so owners are urged to keep infected dogs incubated and away from other canine playmates until the disease has run its course.

H3N2 is fairly contagious, but a vaccine for it is available. As Dr. Jim Turner of Arlington’s Farrell Animal Hospital told NBCDFW, “This is much easier to prevent then to deal with after the fact…It may be mild enough that you won’t think much about it but with time as it becomes more severe the fever will increase and maybe their appetite drops.”

If your dog is experiencing any potential symptoms of a flu-like virus, like coughing or abnormal temperature, take your precious pup to your local vet to be checked just in case.