Kennel Cough, Dog Flu, Bird Flu

These days there is more to talk about bird flu. Among the hunters it is doubtful whether one can contract the disease when handling birds killed during hunting, especially migratory species. We also wonder if dogs can contract the disease while collecting these pieces, and if both can transmit the disease to their owners. We will answer these questions.

The bird flu or avian influenza, which is technically known as a disease, is caused by a virus that affects only birds. There are more likely to be affected birds, like chickens or turkeys, and more resistant to it like ducks, or geese, ducks and seabirds. The latter can become what they call reservoirs, i.e. animals that carry and transmit the disease but who do not suffer..

Other species are also suffering the flu or influenza, such as pigs, horses or humans. Each species has its group of viruses adapted to them, i.e. there is a flu virus or swine influenza, influenza or equine influenza, and of course, human influenza. As we see are different viruses, but with enough similarity between them. Thus, in certain circumstances, eg. where there is a very narrow coexistence, lack of hygiene or becomes very virulent virus, the virus can jump from one species to another.

To this we must add that viruses are very simple organisms, so simple that they do not have DNA, i.e. own genetic code to reproduce. So what they do is get inside the cells of the invading organism to use your DNA in order to multiply. If this situation is infected by two different viruses, they can recombine and produce a new type of highly pathogenic virus. That is, and give an example, if a person infected with human influenza virus begins to operate in conditions of poor hygiene birds infected by bird flu, it is possible that viruses come over and mixed species inside the infected cell and to share DNA and create a new virus adapted to people and more virulent.

Dog and bird flu

These jumps from one species to another or to adapt this genetic recombination from one species to another can occur only from one species to another species that are susceptible to flu, never to species are not. In carnivores, dogs and cats has not been reported avian influenza, so they are not susceptible to it. Therefore hunting dogs can not contract or transmit bird flu.

Of course, then there is the possibility there of recombinant virus. Therefore, assuming that if avian flu arrived in Southeast Asia to Europe, and in the event that the virus is diagnosed in wildlife, hunting dogs can not have the disease nor transmit it.

My dog sneezes and runny

Dogs, like humans, can cause a variety of respiratory illnesses like a cold, and that can lead us to think he has the flu, but as I said before, this is not true.

The most common respiratory disease in dogs is the laryngo-tracheitis, or more commonly called "kennel cough". It is caused by a virus often associated respiratory bacteria that complicate the picture. It causes mainly a dry, unproductive cough, in some animals is complicated and may have fever, poor appetite and be sad. It is highly contagious through direct contact with respiratory secretions and spreads rapidly from one dog to another. Hence its name, because when it comes in a kennel is transmitted to most of the copies of the site soon.

It is a benign disease, and most individuals heal themselves within days. Should watch the young and old animals, as well as those in the introduction of any box of complications, but generally the trend is favorable.

Pneumococcal

Less frequent, but also we are pneumonia's. These are caused by localized infections in the lung parenchyma. It may take more unnoticed than kennel cough, since many animals do not show a very obvious symptoms. The condition is usually loss of appetite, malaise, fever, dyspepsia, and does not support the exercise, they drown. The clinical diagnosis is made through auscultation and lung radio-graphs. All pneumonia's should be treated with antibiotics during the time needed for healing and veterinary supervision. Rest is also very important.

Finally, there is a very important disease with respiratory symptoms, which takes its name: the pip. This is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system and cause ticks, paralysis or seizures. But as its incubation period can be quite long during this time down the patient's defenses and other active secondary diseases such as respiratory, causing abundant purulent nasal secretions, of which it is named.

It is a very serious because we can do little once the vets show, but it has a very good prevention with vaccines, thanks to which it is becoming less frequent.

As we see, dogs can suffer from similar clinical pictures to a flu or a cold, but all are well known and caused by different agents to those of influenza or flu. Therefore, these symptoms it is prudent to go to the vet, but never fear that may have a flu, and also we can get. so there is no danger of dog flu.