By Michael P. McConnell, Daily Tribune Staff Writer
MADISON HEIGHTS — Most people have heard of the swine flu that affects humans, but there is also a relatively new canine flu that afflicts dogs and spreads rapidly in shelters and rescue operations.
Pooches at the city animal shelter, which also operates Hazel Park's animal control program, last week got their first round of flu shots to protect them against the canine influenza virus referred to as CIV.
The Madison Heights Animal Shelter was one of many organizations nationwide to get the vaccine for free from the Petfinder.com Foundation.
"This is the first time we've gotten vaccines like this," said Suzette Gysel, head of the city's animal shelter. "It was given to four dogs here and five at the Hazel Park facility."
Gysel said the vaccines were sent to the shelter's veterinarian, who administered the shots.
The shelter got 130 doses of the vaccines which are good through July, she added.
Dog flu is a growing problem nationwide and has turned up in 35 states over the past several years, according to Petfinder.com, an online animal adoption website affiliated with thousands of animal shelters and rescue groups.
"Canine flu can be a real problem for shelters, where one sick dog can cause an outbreak through an entire facility," Liz Neuschatz, director of the Petfinder.com Foundation, said in a statement.
Most dogs have not built up immunity to the flu and can get the disease from exposure to infected dogs and drinking from their bowls or playing with toys touched by the virus.
Nearly all dogs exposed to the virus contract the disease and start coughing, experts say. Sometimes the virus leads to more serious infections such as pneumonia, which can be fatal.
Gysel said current funding levels don't allow the animal shelters in Madison Heights or Hazel Park to purchase flu vaccines.
"We're really happy to get this from Petfinder," she said. "We've had several dogs come in over the last six months with influenza symptoms. It's a lot like when people get the flu. There is vomiting and diarrhea; we want to prevent as much discomfort for the dogs as possible."
Dogs with the flu typically have a cough, nasal discharge and loss of energy and appetite that can last for several weeks.
Petfinder teamed up with Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health which makes Nobivac Canine Flu H3N8 vaccine for the grants to thousands of shelters and rescue groups. The plan is to distribute up to 1 million doses of the vaccine.