New flu vaccine can help dogs under some circumstances

A few years ago, bird flu was the "it" pandemic. This year, the relatively innocuous swine flu took a turn behind the wheel of the 24/7 news cycle. Finally, canine influenza is getting its 15 minutes.

H3N8 isn't new, but its vaccine is. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conditionally approved the first vaccine for the H3N8 canine influenza A virus just in time for flu season this year.

According to APHIS, "Studies indicate that the vaccine can reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding. The product is administered by injection, and is recommended for use in healthy dogs at 6 weeks of age or older as an aid in the control of disease associated with canine influenza virus infection."

In other words, the vaccine won't prevent your dog from contracting the flu, but it can mitigate the duration and severity of his symptoms, which could ultimately curb the spread of the virus.

A couple of things you should know:

— You, the dog owner, are unlikely to contract H3N8. To date, there are no known cases of a human contracting the flu from a canine.

— The death rate for dogs with canine flu is very low. As with humans, secondary pneumonia is the life-threatening development to be avoided. According to Discovery News, "Symptoms in dogs can include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and a respiratory infection that may last a few weeks. One percent to 5 percent of victims die from related hemorrhagic pneumonia."

Who should get the vaccine?

In a Q and A for The New York Times, Dr. Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, labeled the H3N8 vaccine a "lifestyle" vaccine "intended for dogs at risk for exposure to canine influenza virus, including those that participate in activities with many other dogs or those housed in communal facilities, particularly in communities where the virus is prevalent. Dogs that may benefit from canine influenza vaccination include those that are already receiving the kennel cough vaccine for Bordetella because the risk groups are the same."

If your dog primarily stays home and is limited to walks in the neighborhood and romps in the backyard, he is at low risk for catching dog flu and probably would not benefit from the vaccine.