Can Dogs get the flu and is there a such thing as a doggie flu shot?

I've just learned something new! I had no clue dogs could get flu shots! Zootoo is so incredible!

I don't know about shots but about 2 days ago the news said that our pets can get swine flu from humans, a cat got it, they have known for awhile that they can catch the regular flu, it is unlikely that humans can get it from pets, any symptoms call the Vet.

There is definitely a dog flu going around. Call your vet if you want your dog to get innoculated as they have the vaccine. Dogs that gather in large groups are prone to that.

I called up my vet to see if they really had the flu shots and they actually do.Yes dogs can get the flu just like poeple and it gets really bad they could also die just like people.

They absolutely can get the flu- and it is now highly recomended that if your dog attends doggie day care, dog parks, or any other place where there are multiple dogs that they should get the flu shot. You can just go to your regular vet to ask about it, they should have it right on hand considering the season.

This is so weird. I didn't know this either, but then on my local news about one hour ago they had a story about dogs getting the H3N8 flu virus! There is a vaccine for it.

yes they can. and the news has told us that there is a flu shot for dogs. i do not know about cats though.

Dogs can certainly get the flu. Canine influenza, or dog flu, is the H3N8 virus. There is a vaccination for it. Mainly you just need to be aware of the symptoms & take your dog to the vet if he developes a cough or a fever. Early symptoms look a lot like kennel cough. Most cases are mild to moderate & resolve in 10-30 days depending on the treatment protocol. Like human flu, it can get more serious if left untreated & there are some dogs that are going to be more affected than others.

It was all over the news 3 days ago tat there was the first confirmed case o cat having the S1N1 flu. My suspicio is that isf a at can catch the flu from humans that dogs can too. The below is from WebMD (a very reputable medical website):

(WebMD) Until recently, it was thought that dogs didn't get the flu.

But in 2004, researchers looking at unexplained deaths of greyhounds at dog racing tracks discovered a new influenza virus that can infect dogs. Since then, the virus has been found in 30 states and Washington D.C., said Cynda Crawford, an assistant professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida, who first found the flu virus.

WebMD went to the experts to get answers to some of the biggest questions about dog flu.

1. What are the symptoms of dog flu?
Diagnosing dog flu can be difficult, Crawford said. That's because dog flu symptoms - a low fever, persistent cough, runny nose, and just feeling blah - are the same as some other common respiratory diseases. A test is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Can people catch the flu from their dog, and vice versa?
Although people and dogs can catch influenza viruses, they are susceptible to different strains of the virus, Crawford said.

For that reason, people don't need to worry about catching the flu from their dog, said Rubin Donis, PhD, chief of the molecular virology and vaccines branch at the CDC.

"We're obviously keeping an eye on that, but so far we haven't seen any evidence that people can contract the virus from their pets," Donis said.

There has been some evidence that dogs might be able to catch the flu from people, Donis said. But there's not enough data on the subject.

3. How serious is dog flu?
If your pet gets the flu, don't panic. The virus isn't highly dangerous, said Edward Dubovi, PhD, director of the virology laboratory at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the person who first isolated the canine influenza virus from a sample sent to him by Crawford.
But just as with people, dog flu can lead to secondary infections that could develop into life-threatening pneumonia.

4. How likely is my dog to catch dog flu?
High-risk areas for catching dog flu include boarding kennels, shelters, doggie daycares and dog parks.
Where you live also can have an impact. Crawford said that some areas, such as the east coast from Virginia to Connecticut, as well as southern Florida, the Denver area, and some parts of Texas, have had widespread outbreaks, and other areas have had none.

"We also find it's more prevalent in major metro areas, but that's probably because there are higher concentrations of dogs in those areas," she said.

Researchers also haven't found a seasonal element to the disease. So instead of cases increasing during the fall and winter, it seems to occur year-round.

5. How is dog flu treated?
Treatment for dog flu is very similar to that for people. Because antibiotics don't work on a virus, the usual advice is lots of rest and fluids. But antibiotics could be prescribed for secondary infections, Dubovi said.

6. Should my dog get the dog flu vaccine?
A dog flu vaccine, approved in the spring of 2009, is now available at veterinary offices. Dubovi said the vaccine won't prevent a dog from getting the virus, but it will lessen the severity and the duration of the disease. Whether or not to vaccinate is a personal choice, he said.

Crawford said the vaccine consists of two shots, given three weeks apart. The shots contain the killed virus and help dogs build immunity to it. She said so far dogs don't seem to have adverse reactions to the vaccine.

7. Can dogs get swine flu?
Dubovi said there's no evidence that dogs get swine flu, or the H1N1 virus. But some dogs have contracted avian flu, and some cases have been fatal, he said.

but dogs can only catch very few things from people. seasonal flu isn't one of them, nor is swine flu. though i don't know if there is such a thing as a doggie flu shot, it honestly isn't necessary. anytime you're worried about your pup getting sick, you can start adding a pinch of pure sodium ascorbate to each meal. that's a specific type of vitamin c that is easy on a dog's stomach and they absorb it better than regular vitamin c, but it still raised their immunity and keeps them healthy. anytime i start feeling like i may be getting sick, i add extra vitamin c to my diet and i'm over it in a couple of days.