Possible canine flu found at Riverside shelter

The Riverside Department of Animal Services is making aggressive prevention efforts after it found two cases of a possible canine influenza at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley.

Symptoms include a cough that lasts for 10-21 days despite treatment, and, in more severe cases, a high-grade fever.

“It’s similar to a human influenza. A coughing dog can pass to a non-coughing dog in the same vicinity,” said Allan Drusys, the chief veterinarian of the department.

The dog flu spreads from contaminated objects like kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes. Humans can’t catch it, but people moving between infected and uninfected dogs can help spread it. The virus is alive on surfaces for up to 48 hours, on clothing for 24 hours, and on hands for 12 hours.

“It’s a very contagious virus, it’s unusual and is not something we usually deal with,” said John Welsh, department spokesman.

Drusys says no cases have turned up in the valley, but they want to make the county aware of the potential virus.

Some dog lovers said it’s still too close to home.

“It’s scary. I wouldn’t want Dillon to get it,” said Stephanie Odow, of Palm Desert, about her puppy.

Since the department first caught the symptoms, it said no dog potentially exposed to the virus has been euthanized.

Animal services says there’s no need to keep your dog isolated, but you should take precautions.

The department ordered 500 doses of vaccine for the potentially infected dogs at the Riverside shelter, which don’t prevent the infection completely, but lessen the symptoms.

We’re told the two potentially infected dogs there at that shelter are getting better.