Can Dogs Catch the Flu?

Humans aren't the only ones getting sick from influenza. Your dog can catch the flu, as well.

Dogs that have been infected with influenza viruses have the potential to act as "mixing vessels" and generate new flu strains that could infect people.

Today, veterinarians use vaccines that include inactivated flu virus. But these researchers say this type of flu vaccine provides limited protection.

Scientists have now developed two new vaccines for canine influenza. Previous research found that live-attenuated vaccines, offered longer periods of protection.

Canine influenza is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by two different influenza A dog flu viruses, the H3N8 virus and the H3N2 virus.

No human infections with canine influenza have ever been reported.

In the first study, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Ph.D., created two "live-attenuated" vaccines against H3N8 canine influenza virus. These researchers used a genetic engineering technique called reserve genetics to create a live vaccine that replicates in the nose, but not in the lungs.

The dog’s nose is where the virus first enters, so generating an immune response there could stop the virus in its tracks.

A second study used reserve genetics to remove a protein called NS1 from H3N8 canine influenza virus. This approach has been used with human, swine and equine flu viruses to generate potential vaccines and was also safe and more effective than a traditional inactivated H3N8 influenza vaccine in dog tracheal cells.

The team is planning clinical trials to find ways to stem the spread of flu in dog kennels, and to avoid the transmission of a dog flu virus to humans.

Example prices for dog vaccines can be found here.

No conflicts of interest were disclosed: Aitor Nogalesa, Laura Rodrigueza, Caroline Chauchéb, Kai Huangc, Emma C Reillyd, David J. Tophamd, Pablo R. Murciab, Colin R. Parrishc, Luis Martínez-Sobridoa