Personal Risk Management During the Canine Influenza Outbreak
- Apr 10, 2015
- 3 min read
By Jamie Damato Migdal, CEO and Pet Industry Entrepreneur
By now, you’ve probably heard about the canine influenza that has been sweeping the city and suburbs. In an attempt to manage the outbreak, city dog parks have been plastered with warning notices, events have been cancelled, and boarding facilities closed down.
These measures are completely appropriate - this flu is no joke - but one of the things that I’ve been thinking about involves risk management on a more personal level. Everyone whose dog has to potty outside will run the risk of meeting another dog who may be currently asymptomatic but still contagious, or whose owner has no idea that there is even a problem. So what are the most effective ways to manage these interactions?
No greetings! There is an incubation period for this flu, and that perfectly healthy looking dog may be shedding the virus all over the place. No greetings means no nose-to-nose, no saliva exchange, and no butt sniffing. Since the virus is exchanged through respiratory secretions, stay out of sneezing range. If you live in an elevator building, pick up your dog and carry him outside if he’s small enough; this will keep him out of range of other dogs and away from infected surfaces.
Keep your dog under your control at all times. This means a 6’ leash, shortened as much as possible when passing other dogs. If you’re using a 26’ flexi-leash, you’re not in control of your dog. If you think you don’t need to keep your dog on a leash because “he always listens to you”, then think again. You may be willing to risk your own dog’s health by letting him roam untethered, but it’s unfair to other owners to let your dog be Patient Zero just because you think he should be a free agent.
Good hygiene is your friend. Wash your hands, wipe your shoes, and clean your surfaces, especially if you have contact with other dogs.
Educate other dog owners. In spite of all the media coverage about the outbreak, there are still a lot of people who have no idea that it’s happening. If they want to let their dogs greet yours, politely but firmly tell them no thanks (while keeping your own dog on a short leash as far away from the other dog as possible). You don’t owe them a long-winded explanation, but you can use the opportunity to educate - the more informed owners, the better.
Vaccinate. Ask your vet about vaccinations. It’s a two step shot (an initial shot and a booster a few weeks later), and if your dog isn’t already sick it can help prevent or mitigate the effects of the flu. But before you take your dog in to be vaccinated, ask how they are managing their waiting room vis a vis the segregation of sick dogs. Some vets are providing vaccinations in a separate part of the building (even in their parking lots) so that they can avoid inadvertent contact.
For more information on the outbreak, see Dr. Anne Cohen’s post on Steve Dale's Pet World blog.
Note: On 4/12/15, researchers at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin published a press release saying results from additional testing indicated that the outbreak is being caused by a virus closely related to Asian strains of influenza A H3N2 viruses, currently in wide circulation in southern Chinese and South Korean dog populations.
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