Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) Vacine

[Crystal1]

I just took my boy, Buddy, to the Vet, and they told me about this new Canine Influenza Virus or (CIV). Apparently, it is spreading all over the United States, and since our dogs have never been around this virus before, ALL dogs will catch it. It apparently has only an 8 percent death rate, but can still be pretty severe. Some dogs will get it so mildly that you won't be able to tell that they have it. The death rate is due to catching pneumonia, which you would need to pay your Vet to treat. The vacine is available from my Vet for $50.00. It does not entirely protect the dogs, but if they do get this flu, they will have a minor case. I can't afford to pay the Vet for pneumonia if Buddy should catch that, so I'm forking over my $50.00 now.
Thought you guys might want to know. More information at:
http://www.doginfluenza.com/owners/

 

[SheltieChe]

somehow it reminds me all that mass hysteria that surrounded bird and swine flu for humans.... somehow somewhere someone made a bunch of money on this nightmare... I do believe it was all hyped up for a reason... just not sure which one...
from what it sounds it is going to be "new" kennel cough...
and I would treat it same way I go with humans- unless your dog is severely compromised in immunity, on steroids, had diabetes or similar debilitating problem I will stay away from vaccination...
now I would like to explain few facts which may not be well known for human flu, because it is sore topic with me... there is 15-20 different strains of flu going around the world at any given time... so research people go to Mongolia, where most flu starts about a year earlier than rest of the world and separate 4-5-6 most "important" strains, then combine it in a shot and next year everyone who wants receives a preventative flu shot... what happen with swine flu is that researches found that strain too late in add to that year vaccination so it ended up being separate vaccine...
There ALWAYS were people dying from flu, just media never had interest in publishing numbers... if you look who is at most risk- are people who have compromised immune system...
now if you are healthy person- you will get the flu, feel like a s...t for few days, get over it and develop natural immunity for years to come...

 

[Ann]

I just had a conversation with my vet about this vaccine this week. He is not recommending it, because he says it is too new and there isn't enough evidence that (a) it's effective and (b) there aren't adverse side effects. I asked because I was concerned about my little show dog, who will be in an environment with many other dogs at shows and he still does not recommend she get it. So I'm passing.

I think we all just have to be aware and careful when our dogs are around other animals, and avoid contact when possible if we don't know the dog. I know that's no guarantee, but I'm going with my vet's recommendation on this one.

 

[Smudge]

unless your dog is severely compromised in immunity, on steroids, had diabetes or similar debilitating problem I will stay away from vaccination...

My dog's immunity is bad, and he isn't getting the vaccine.

I have problems with flu vaccines in general though. They sort of freak me out. Take my sister for example. We are twins. I can take a flu shot with no problems. Julie got a flu shot many years ago, the first one she had ever had. She went to work later the same day and passed out. The flu shot made her dealthy ill, and I don't mean flu like symptoms. Julie doesn't get the flu shot anymore. She said she'd rather take the risk of getting the flu than getting sick from the shot itself. She had fever, had several spells where she just passed out, ect.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

No thanks. There have been no confirmed cases in Maryland. Even if there were, I would pass. I don't get the flu shot, my nurse landlord doesn't get the flu shot, and my dogs won't get it either.

I call those the "disease of the week" shots.

 

[Lightplum]

I was talking to my vet about this last year, and he also breeds/shows boxers (who have the weakest immune system of all the breeds) and he feels the same way there isnt enough evidence that it does work. Like the human flu shot its guessing on the strain that is going to show up. Also there hasnt been any cases up here either...if I remember correctly it was out in the midwest where it popped up, but there hasnt been too much info on it. However that being said there is also a new strain of parvo that seems to be creeping up, now thats worth keeping an eye on!

I generally hate to over vaccinate my dogs, in the end it stresses their immune system more than needed, and alot of the "extra" vaccines dont really seem to be worth it, as they dont seem to work all that often, look at the lyme vac for example....