Dog Flu in the news...

**Criosphynx** · 09-28-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawzaddict

Do you think we should discuss this with our vet for Glacier? I wonder if he has a compromised immune system and if we should be careful about vaccinating him or not vaccinating him with everything (I don't know which way to go here)

I think the reaction to a vaccine would likely be milder than if he got the real thing...I might be wrong, but it makes sence to me. I'd rather my immunosupressed dogs have the antibodies already before they contract it.

They just seem to have a harder time getting over stuff...like Kiwi, when she gets Kennel cough it takes FOREVER for her to kick it...even with meds and the vaccine...

Though, if hes not playing with wierd dogs, the risk is low anyway. Critter is due for a vet visit soon and Iam good friends with my vet, he wont feed me any BS...lol

pawzaddict · 09-28-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Criosphynx

I think the reaction to a vaccine would likely be milder than if he got the real thing...I might be wrong, but it makes sence to me. I'd rather my immunosupressed dogs have the antibodies already before they contract it.

They just seem to have a harder time getting over stuff...like Kiwi, when she gets Kennel cough it takes FOREVER for her to kick it...even with meds and the vaccine...

Though, if hes not playing with wierd dogs, the risk is low anyway. Critter is due for a vet visit soon and Iam good friends with my vet, he wont feed me any BS...lol

Yea our vets like to use holistic approaches when possible. Like when we got Glacier he had a green snotty runny nose and the vet said to give him a couple days and watch him before we put him on something, I like that about them, its what I do for myself ya know?

Yea I am not worried about my other boys and girls, just Glacier (speaking of Glacier I just got loads of kisses out of the blue) LOL.

How do you test for autoimmune issues? Bloodwork?

**fawkese1** · 09-28-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawzaddict

NO!!!! My cats do not get vaccinated cuz they are indoor kitties.

sometimes people think they are doing the best thing for an animal or even a child and they aren't... I am in class with a girl whose parents make her go to the dentist every 6 months, the doctor for a physical every 6 months and she gets EVERY vaccine in the book.... I am just the opposite...

i've had a bunch of vaccines, but i used to live in an employee/group housing thing in yosemite for a long time. communal living in a national park with visitors from all over the world....it was highly recommended that i do so....
my first vet for my cat suggested i get his baby vaccines and then leave it at that when i brought it up. next vet recommended i get a booster when my rommate brought in a new kitten (didn't really know where the kitten came from...). now i don't have a vet for him yet....not sure if clover is keeping the same vet, i really liked the guy but the office was so busy, he didn't really have time to answer all of my questions (he was cool with my dog though, i like that)
i think i'll take fawkes to this other guy for his check-up and figure it out......anyway, when i take him in, i'll see what the vet recommends and how well he is able to explain to me why etc. and go from there. all of our cats are indoor/outdoor but only on leashes or in our smallish backyard....

ScentHound · 09-28-2009, 11:44 PM

Here is another good read on the subject. I found this when I was doing some research to stay ahead of this with Cleo and Missy.

Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital - 602-277-1464

**Criosphynx** · 09-29-2009, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawzaddict

Yea our vets like to use holistic approaches when possible. Like when we got Glacier he had a green snotty runny nose and the vet said to give him a couple days and watch him before we put him on something, I like that about them, its what I do for myself ya know?

Yea I am not worried about my other boys and girls, just Glacier (speaking of Glacier I just got loads of kisses out of the blue) LOL.

How do you test for autoimmune issues? Bloodwork?

well autoimmune (allergies)they can take a biopsy of the skin and test for specific stuff...most vets don't bother since an allergy is pretty obviously an allergy so they just treat it with steroids if the cause can't be determined or eliminated...allergy tests are pretty useless.

an immune system defect or deficiency (what Chili and Kiwi have) would be a blood test among other things... usually what is happening is the body is not creating certain antibodies or they are being created but are defective...at least thats my understanding of it. My dogs weren't tested as the vet didn't see a need to test for what was obvious due to the symptoms...I can have a test done to see what the specific problems are...they usually test the thyroid....but there really more tests than I can list..I haven't put my dogs thru the ringer testing for everything as my vets have not recommended it and I'd hate to put my dogs thru that if there is no need.

Kiwi is both defective and autoimmune Chili has just a defect...though he is still young and may develop allergies later.

Chili had a moderate reaction to his rabies vaccine. He developed a nice size lump which was his bodies way of saying "ahhhh stop that!"

Quote:

Immune Deficiency Diseases
Immune deficiency diseases sire a group of disorders in which normal host defenses against disease are impaired. These include disruption of the body's mechanical barriers to invasion (e.g., normal bacterial flora; the eye and skin; respiratory tract cilia); defects in non-specific host defenses (e.g., complement deficiency; functional white blood cell disorders), and defects in specific host defenses (e.g., immunosuppression caused by pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites; combined immune deficiency; IgA deficiency; growth hormone deficiency).

igA is an antibody....from what I understand its the most common one to have a problem. The problem could really be anywhere ...from the blood to the skin to hormones to vaccines and even diet (diet affects the thyroid which in turn affects everything)...its a pretty endless list of possibilities unfortunately.

dont' know if that helps

pawzaddict · 09-29-2009, 02:01 PM

scenthound I am in AZ too!!!!

Crio - it helps ty! I guess it is something I should discuss with our vet if Glacier continues to have problems

Right now I will just assume the poor guy has mange lol

ScentHound · 09-29-2009, 06:03 PM

I'm not in AZ,

I am in Texas, but have been through there on many occasions. That is just a site I found while looking up this new strain.

The fever is nasty on this strain. Both Cleo and Missy hit 106, I ended up using ice packs next to them (they utilized the packs themselves once they realized they were cold) and cool water in the bath to break their fevers. They are both resting right now. I am about to take a nap myself, after I make a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup.

pawzaddict · 09-29-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScentHound

I'm not in AZ,

I am in Texas, but have been through there on many occasions. That is just a site I found while looking up this new strain.

The fever is nasty on this strain. Both Cleo and Missy hit 106, I ended up using ice packs next to them (they utilized the packs themselves once they realized they were cold) and cool water in the bath to break their fevers. They are both resting right now. I am about to take a nap myself, after I make a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup.

OH lol

So your dogs had the dog flu? Do you have the flu? Is this ALSO contagious from people to dogs and vice versa (I did not read that)

ScentHound · 09-29-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawzaddict

OH lol

So your dogs had the dog flu? Do you have the flu? Is this ALSO contagious from people to dogs and vice versa (I did not read that)

They currently do. It is not contagious to humans. Missy was just getting clear of Parvo and the Canine flu hit her. Her immune system was trashed and made her vulnerable. Cleo was vaccinated for everything except this new strain and she caught it. Biggest thing that could be a problem with this strain in dogs is that it has a high possibility to develop into Pneumonia. For the first day or so, Missy was Weezing and breathing hard. Reminded me of someone with full blown pnemonia. Cleo, on the other hand, has only had the high fever, coughing, and sneezing.

pawzaddict · 09-29-2009, 06:57 PM

ugh that sucks. Do they have to physically come into contact with another dog with it? I live around an area where many people don't even know what vaccine means... UGH