DOGS: LEARN ALL ABOUT CANINE INFLUENZA.

DOGS: LEARN ALL ABOUT CANINE INFLUENZA.Canine Influenza – A Year Round Concern.The cold winter months are typically peak flu season, right? Well, in humans that’s true. But when it comes to the furry members of our family the flu is a year round canine health concern. It’s vital for every dog owner to know the risks of canine influenza, the dog symptoms to watch for and what to do if you have a sick dog. Flu Facts Canine flu is a fairly recent problem having been first diagnosed in 2004. It originally mutated from equine influenza and was initially detected among the greyhound population found in racing kennels. Over the past 10 years, the dog flu has spread and become more common among all dog breeds. Currently there has never been even one case of canine influenza being transferred from a dog to a person. However, flu viruses have been known to successfully modify themselves to infect other animals so there is always a possibility that people could be at risk. NewsCosmic bursts solve Universe's 'missing matter' problem Canine flu is highly infectious. Dogs who are exposed to it have close to a 100% chance of getting the flu. Senior dogs and puppies are more susceptible to serious illness if infected. Since it is spread via airborne particles, being on the receiving end of another pooches’ sneeze or cough is enough to make your dog sick. Also, the virus has the ability to survive on surfaces for up to 48 hours so sharing a toy or food bowl with an infected friend can spread it more quickly. More from DR POL HERE

Bacteria carried by unneutered dogs could put pregnant women at risk.

Bacteria carried by unneutered dogs could put pregnant women at risk. Intact dogs can carry Brucella canis bacteria, which can cause flu-like symptoms in people and pose risk to a pregnancy, according to a study in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Brucellosis infections can cause miscarriages in animals and are associated with fetal problems in pregnant women, and the CDC says pregnant women who may have been exposed to the bacteria should consult their health care provider. A bacteria carried by dogs that haven't been neutered can produce flu symptoms in humans and potentially jeopardize a pregnancy, a new study suggests. Brucellosis infection is most commonly spread by livestock like sheep, cattle, goats and pigs. But a strain of the bacterium carried by dogs -- Brucella canis -- could be widespread in humans, warned lead researcher Martha Hensel, a veterinarian with Texas A&M University. B. canis is carried by dogs that can still reproduce, Hensel noted. It's not clear exactly how the bacteria might spread to humans, but it's most likely passed through contact with reproductive organs or urine. People who regularly handle such dogs -- vets, dog shelter employees, dog breeders -- are most at risk for contracting brucellosis, Hensel said. However, pet ownership is a likely risk factor for infection, particularly for young children and people with compromised immune systems, Hensel and her colleagues explained. The researchers highlighted some case studies: 1) A 3-year-old New York City girl came down with brucellosis in 2012 after exposure to an infected puppy recently purchased from a pet store. 2)Several people with HIV have developed brucellosis in recent years, all linked to intact dogs they owned that were later diagnosed with B. canis infection. more