We’ve Demystified The New Deadly Dog Flu With The Pros

There’s been a slew of media coverage surrounding a new dog influenza which has many dog owners scared. Typically, canine coughs endure for approximately two weeks and respond well to antibiotics. However, in this instance, the ailment seems resistant to standard medications, potentially persisting for a duration four times longer than usual. While some news media talk about how scary and uneasy the flu is making owners, other media like NPR is talking about how vets aren’t too scared about this flu and it may be overblown. It’s making it hard to know what to do while the experts sort out solutions.

Owner and dog at the Berkeley Marina – photo from Bring Fido

We talked to a local dog expert, Molly Kenefick of Doggy Lama Pet Care based in Oakland, to dive into the truth about the latest dog influenza scare and discover practical tips to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. From decoding the media madness to unleashing the benefits of professional dog care, this guide is your leash to a pawsitively vibrant pup life. Below you’ll read her advice as to how to tackle this issue in your own home.

GUEST POST BY MOLLY KENEFICK

If you were just watching the mainstream news, you might think there’s a new dog influenza that’s sweeping the nation—about to sicken the dog at your feet any moment! The truth behind the hype is that there is a new canine respiratory illness, but it’s growing slowly, and veterinary schools and state and federal agencies are tracking it. The truth is out there. It’s just not in the shrill, hyperbolic media cycle.

Professional dog walkers and doggy daycare facilities are already doing best practices to keep dogs healthy. This is arguably where it’s worth the investment to use true dog professionals vs. gig workers or part timer dog care. Will a college student walking dogs between classes know to check that clients’ vaccines for bordetella or canine parainfluenza are up to date? Will the WFH person offering casual daycare in their home disinfect surfaces regularly? Probably not. The established professional dog caretakers should already be doing these things and they won’t shrink back if you ask them to tell you about their sanitation practices.

A worry for many dog pros is that when dog parents are scared, they may isolate their puppies, and miss the critical period to expose their dogs to other dogs and many other experiences. Despite being rightly focused on keeping their puppies safe, puppy owners need to make sure they provide positive, happy opportunities for their puppies to have playtime with other healthy puppies and dogs. Plenty of positive interactions for a puppy in its early life, especially the critical first four months, makes for a stable, happy dog for its lifetime.

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What can a dog parent do to keep their dog healthy right now? 

• Don’t let your dog drink from public water bowls on the street or at the dog park. Always bring your own water and water bowl with you when you leave the house with your pup.
• Don’t let your dog share frisbees, balls, or other “mouth toys” with other dogs outside of your household.
• Keep socializing your dog, but avoid crowded dog parks where you won’t know if the other dogs are up to date on their shots. Instead, try to make puppy play dates with a dog friend or two in someone’s backyard or take a hike or walk with a dog friend or two and their humans.
• Keep your dog up to date with vaccines, including bordetella and canine parainfluenza. For bordetella, if you can get your dog the intranasal version do that–it lasts longer than the oral version.
• Don’t panic! Follow what vet schools say about the new canine respiratory disease.
• If your dog starts coughing, sneezing, or sounds congested, call your vet and don’t take your dog anywhere where they might get other dogs sick. (Same with other symptoms, such as diarrhea, decreased appetite, and/or low energy.)
• If your dog is sick, don’t take your pup to a place where others can catch your dog’s illness.

About Molly Kenefick: 

Molly is the owner of an award-winning dog walking and boarding business, Oakland-based Doggy Lama Pet Care, that has 25 employees and in 2019 was named “One of the Top Women-Owned Businesses Paving the Way in their Industry.” In its two decades of operation, Doggy Lama has regularly gotten press and “Best of” awards in spots including the East Bay Express, San Francisco magazine, Bay Woof, Parents’ Press, BARK magazine, CityLab, and Oakland magazine. Molly is very involved in leadership positions among dog professionals in the Bay Area and has been consulted with and featured on local news.