Achoo! Has the flu season caught up with you? What about your pet? Believe it or not, your pet can get the flu too. It’s actually pretty common!
Symptoms of Flu
In cats, the symptoms are the same as we face, like difficulty breathing, runny and wet nose and overall fatigue. In dogs, sneezing, coughing and even a fever are common. Both mild and severe cases of the “pet flu” exist.
Treatment of Flu
Visit your veterinarian if your pet exhibits any of the above symptoms. Canine flu is especially contagious to other dogs and needs to be treated immediately! For more mild flu cases, your vet will prescribe an antibiotic. Severe cases may include secondary conditions like pneumonia or bacterial infections.
Prevention of Flu
The “pet flu” is actually pretty new, so there are no vaccines available yet. Until then, it’s best to practice some common sense to make sure your furry family member stays well.
-Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling your pets and other animals and when you come into contact with animal saliva, urine, blood or feces.
-Cover your mouth when coughing.
-Stay up to date on your pet’s vaccines.
-Get the flu shot (pets can sometimes catch the flu from their owners).
-Pets can also get sick from other animals, so keep an eye on your best friend’s ‘friends.
If you are planning to take your dog to a kennel, ask them if any of the dogs seem to have coughing or respiratory issues.Don't board your dog or let them come into contact with other dogs that might be sick!
Keep your pet healthy this flu season so they can take care of you when you’re under the weather!
