I heard there is a new canine flu virus that attacks dogs and is
very contagious. They called it the H3N8 virus. Is this similar to
the H1N1 virus? Is dog flu contagious to people or cats?
Q: I heard there is a new canine flu virus that attacks dogs and is very contagious. They called it the H3N8 virus. Is this similar to the H1N1 virus? Is dog flu contagious to people or cats?
A:
The H3N8 virus, also called the canine flu virus, has been infecting dogs for about five years now. It’s contagious, and we know that in a few cases, it has been deadly. But this is a curious bug because it hasn’t been seen throughout the entire country. H3N8 was first discovered on a Florida race track in 2004. Since then, it has infected dogs in about 30 states, including California. But outbreaks have been sporadic and have dwindled away before the virus could spread wildly.
Symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and a respiratory infection that may last a few weeks. One to five percent of victims die from related hemorrhagic pneumonia.
We believe it originated from the H3N8 equine flu virus, jumping from horses to dogs. Now in addition to spreading from dog to dog, this virus can be carried by humans, if they come into contact with infected animals. And like kennel cough, canine flu seems to show up mainly where there are more concentrated groups of animals. A vaccine has just recently become available.
So should you worry about this potential infection? I believe the answer is yes. Protect your dog’s health. Keep his other vaccinations current and feed him a good quality food. Vitamin supplements and other nutritional additives are not necessary if he is otherwise healthy.
And always be vigilant. If you see another dog with respiratory symptoms, stay away and keep your dog away. And ask your vet whether or not your dog needs the vaccine.
Q:
My Siamese cat has brilliant blue eyes. When she’s outside at night, it seems that she can’t see well. She approaches everything apprehensively until she is certain it means her no harm. Is this her natural behavior or is she having trouble seeing at night? I wonder if blue eyed cats have a vision impairment at night? Otherwise, she seems OK and is a great mouse catcher.
A:
Eye color shouldn’t have an effect on vision in any cat. But other factors could be involved. So first, let’s try to determine if she actually has a nighttime visual impairment. Do the pupils of her eyes seem dilated even in a well-lit room? Eyes that are always dilated are usually unhealthy.
Here’s another little test you can perform at home. In a small, dimly-lit room, toss a cotton ball in front of her without saying anything. She should be able to follow the cotton with her eyes as it falls to the ground. If she seems unaware of the tossed object, chances are she has visual problems. If you have any doubts, ask for a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist for an evaluation.
There are so many old stories about cats with blue or green eyes, especially for felines with white fur. I’ve often heard that an all-white cat with blue or green eyes is likely to be deaf. But if that same white kitty has different colored eyes (one green and one blue), then his hearing should be normal. Truth is, there are too many exceptions to this and other “rules.” These so-called urban legends just don’t hold water. Felines are just too independent to follow anyone’s rules.
Q:
Do cats have ESP? I think our kitty, Marbles, can tell when my son is coming home from school. She stands near the back door every school day starting about a half-hour before he gets home. But on weekends when there’s no school, she sleeps on the couch all afternoon.
A:
Cats have keen senses. And Marbles may have figured out your school day routine. If your activities and behavior are different on school days, you can bet she’s aware of it. So for example; if you spend time in the kitchen each school day afternoon making a snack for your son, Marbles might see this as a sign he’s coming home soon. ESP? Maybe or maybe not. Whatever the case, she sounds as if she’s a pretty smart little bundle of fur.
