Veterinarians say dog owners in Massachusetts should consider having their pets vaccinated following the state's first confirmed case of canine flu this year.
Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston says a four-month-old poodle was successfully treated at the MSPCA hospital earlier this month after arriving with a cough and high fever.
Dr. Virginia Sinnott of Angell's emergency and critical care unit said the dog had not been in any of the other states where outbreaks of the highly-contagious canine flu have previously been reported, including New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and California.
While dog owners should consider flu vaccinations for their pets, experts note that much like the human flu there are several different strains of canine flu and no guarantees the vaccine will always be effective.
Dog owners are being told to call their veterinarian immediately should any of the following symptoms arise:
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Decreased activity
- Decreased appetite
- Generally feeling unwell
