The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) fully licensed the new H3N8vaccine for canine flu, also known as the H3N8 influenza virus on June 9, 2010. This is approximately one year after the conditional license was grated for this vaccine.
Canine H3N8 flu, thought to have originated as a disease in dogs after jumping from horses, made the news during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009 and had many people worried. The H1N1 virus was found to be transmissible from humans to several species of animals. To date, the H3N8 virus has not infected people.
While H3N8 can be a serious disease, it is primarily a disease of dogs in close contact with each other, such as a kennel, day care or shelter. Certain areas of the United States are considered to be "hot spots" for this disease, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and Colorado. Since first reported in Florida in 2004, canine flu has been confirmed in 33 states.
Should Your Dog Be Vaccinated for H3N8?
This dog vaccination is not a core vaccine. It is considered a "lifestyle vaccine" -- in other words, the decision to vaccinate for H3N8 is a choice made after discussing with your veterinarian and evaluating your dog's risk factors.
Related: Who is at risk for H3N8?
Further Reading:
- H3N8 Vaccine information from the manufacturer, Intervet/Shering-Plough Animal Health
- Key Facts about Canine Influenza from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Photo credit: Dog Nose © kalimistuk on Flickr
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