ALERT: Recent Upper Respiratory Infections in NYC

#HealthAlert #URI #DogFlu

There have been numerous reports to Dog Blog NYC about URIs (Upper Respiratory Infections) in NYC.

One of which was a stray dog who was rescued and then rushed to an Upper East Side Veterinary Clinic from Long Island. The dog is still recovering from pneumonia and another URI that is suspected to be the Canine Influenza. If you were not alerted about this recent outbreak of the Canine Influenza (Dog Flu), it is important to get your dog vaccinated, despite being at the tail end of this outbreak. This Dog Flu is not deadly or transferable to humans. Your dog is at increased risk if he/she is very social and/or goes to popular dog locations, for example Central Park, dog runs/parks, puppy play times, etc. Dog Flu vaccines are usually around $60 per shot, and two shots are needed three weeks apart.

Signs of a URI include:

- Coughing

- Sneezing

- Nasal discharge

- Wheezing

- Gagging

- Difficult/labored breaths

- Increased lethargy

If you notice some of these signs, especially increased coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge, contact your Veterinarian.

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NOTE: These reports are gathered directly from our inside sources in Vet Clinics and Hospitals as well as from direct reports from dog owners in NYC. Data / reports used for this posting was not from government agencies such as the CDC (Center for Disease Control) or the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture).