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Post by CampWhippet on May 11, 2006 17:47:33 GMT -5
Dog flu spreads fast: Tracks take steps, pets now at risk By Scott Van Voorhis Wednesday, May 10, 2006 As many as 12 pet dogs in Massachusetts have tested positive for canine influenza, thrusting the state into the vortex of a new flu epidemic that appears to be spreading from coast to coast, a top animal testing center at Cornell University reports. The flu outbreak is an outgrowth of a vicious flu strain that ripped through local greyhound tracks last year. But the latest data shows the flu has hit pet dogs in Massachusetts and around the country as well. The Cornell data did not say specifically where in the state dogs had contracted the flu. Last year’soutbreak is believed to have played a role in the death of nearly 20 dogs at Wonderland. Local racetracks, after last year’s deadly outbreak, are taking no chances. Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Track, which managed to escape any flu deaths last year, is once again turning to a quarantine to protect its dogs. That means no dogs are allowed in from other tracks, while Raynham-Taunton’s greyhounds are also kept home. Two New Hampshire tracks will also quarantine their greyhounds, that state’s racing commissioner said yesterday. But the illness has long since escaped the confines of greyhound tracks around the country, spreading to boarding kennels, pet stores, doggie day care centers and shelters, said Cynda Crawford, a scientist at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. About 5 percent of the dogs that come down with the flu die, preliminary research has shown, with others sometimes facing a months-long recovery. “It is definitely in the pet dog population and we have had a number of outbreaks in veterinary clinics,” said Crawford, who has closely studied the virus’ impact in Florida. Especially vulnerable are veterinarian offices or shelters where the virus often spreads quickly to dozens of dogs from just one infected pet, Crawford said. “It has that explosive potential,” she said. Roughly 435 dogs across the country have now tested positive for canine influenza, according to figures posted online by an animal health research center at Cornell University. There were 3,150 dogs tested. business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=138618
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Post by CampWhippet on May 11, 2006 17:47:55 GMT -5
Anyone want to discuss where the Dog Flu originated?
According to the Web site for the American Veterinary Medical Association, the first recognized outbreak of canine influenza in the world is believed to have occurred in racing greyhounds in January 2004 at a track in Florida. Since then, outbreaks have been reported in at racing tracks in 25 states.
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Post by CampWhippet on May 11, 2006 17:55:11 GMT -5
Dog flu closes Cheyenne Animal Shelter
By JOAN BARRON Star-Tribune capital bureau
[oas:casperstartribune.net/news/wyoming:Middle1] CHEYENNE -- An outbreak of canine influenza shut down the Cheyenne Animal Shelter this weekend.
The dog park next to the shelter building also was closed.
The self-imposed quarantine authorized by shelter staff veterinarian Jim Hathaway came after four of five blood samples of shelter dogs with upper respiratory infections were diagnosed as canine influenza by the University of Florida, said a release from shelter spokeswoman Michelle Hazzard.
"This is a bad disease that came into the shelter and is not the fault of the shelter staff or anyone else," Hathaway said.
"This disease is not transmittable to humans or pets other than dogs," he added. The disease, he said, appears to be airborne, and physical contact between dogs does not seem to be required for a dog to get the ailment.
The Metro Animal Control Center in Casper was open Monday, said an employee who answered the phone. But no one else could be reached Monday afternoon to talk about the implications of the Cheyenne outbreak.
According to the Web site for the American Veterinary Medical Association, the first recognized outbreak of canine influenza in the world is believed to have occurred in racing greyhounds in January 2004 at a track in Florida. Since then, outbreaks have been reported in at racing tracks in 25 states.
"Because this is a newly emerging disease, almost all dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to infection and have no immunity. Virtually all dogs that are exposed to the virus become infected, and nearly 80 percent show clinical signs of disease. Fortunately, most affected dogs have the mild form," the AVMA site said.
The fatality rate so far has been low -- 5 percent to 8 percent.
Meanwhile, Hathaway said if dog owners notice flu-like symptoms in their dogs, they should call their veterinarians and not take the pets to their vets' offices, where they could expose other dogs.
The shelter board set up a temporary off-site shelter for strays picked up by Cheyenne's animal control officers to separate them from the main shelter dog population.
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Post by CampWhippet on May 11, 2006 20:10:23 GMT -5
As of today Tri-State, Wheeling, Corpus Christi, Orange Park, Palm Beach, The Woodlands, Wichita and Wonderland are under quarantine.
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Post by dad2paisley on May 11, 2006 20:35:23 GMT -5
As of today Tri-State, Wheeling, Corpus Christi, Orange Park, Palm Beach, The Woodlands, Wichita and Wonderland are under quarantine. Yes, I saw that too. OP is just doing this as a precaution, no sick dogs there.
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Post by cheryl2 on May 11, 2006 20:44:58 GMT -5
As of today Tri-State, Wheeling, Corpus Christi, Orange Park, Palm Beach, The Woodlands, Wichita and Wonderland are under quarantine. Yes, I saw that too. OP is just doing this as a precaution, no sick dogs there. Same reasoning as a few of the others, Wonderland, Palm Beach and the Woodlands. Only one track has reported anything other than simple cough (about three weeks ago) and there have been no new cases of the more virulent stuff at that track. I know our vet is considering a precautionary quarantine also.
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Post by CampWhippet on May 13, 2006 19:13:54 GMT -5
RAYNHAM - Officials at Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park have quarantined their racing dogs after learning that a dozen pets in Massachusetts have tested positive for canine flu, even though there have been no signs of the illness at their facility. "We always take precautionary measures," track manager Gary Temple said. "Last year, with kennel cough, we didn't have one death." Canine flu and kennel cough, which is believed to have killed nearly 20 greyhounds last summer at Revere's Wonderland Dog Track, are different diseases but have nearly identical symptoms, said Dr. Alexandra Lightbown, a veterinarian for the Massachusetts Racing Commission. "In mild cases, the symptoms are a cough and sometimes nasal discharge," Lightbown explained. "Severe cases can lead to pneumonia and high fevers." Lightbown estimates that between 2 and 5 percent of dogs infected with the illness will die. Temple, the track manager, said he thinks quarantining the 800-1,000 dogs boarded at Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Track will reduce the risk of the illness spreading to his facility. "We don't want dogs from other tracks," Temple said. "There are no signs of it here." Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park enacted similar quarantine last year during the statewide kennel cough outbreak. Wonderland and two tracks in New Hampshire have also quarantined their dogs after they received news of the canine flu test results. Temple said the dog track in Wheeling, W.Va., is the only one in the country that has any dogs infected with the flu. "It's started at dog shelters, kennels and hospitals -not at dog tracks," Temple said. Lightbown said canine flu, which is transmitted through respiratory and nasal secretions, first appeared in 2004 and has shown up in about 18 states. "To date, no people have been infected," she said. "We think it came from a similar equine virus, and that cannot be transmitted from horses to humans." A recent Cornell University study revealed that 12 pet dogs in the Commonwealth have the illness. No racing greyhounds in Massachusetts have shown symptoms. Nationally, 435 of 3,150 dogs examined tested positive for canine flu, according to the Cornell University study. "Nothing is going on - Our dogs are all fine, " Massachusetts Racing Commission spokesman Chris Goetcheus said. "The dogs are healthy. None of the dogs at Raynham or Wonderland are exhibiting symptoms." gtuoti@tauntongazette.com www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16626899&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6
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Post by CampWhippet on May 16, 2006 8:49:51 GMT -5
Hundreds Of Racing Dogs Come Down With Kennel Cough There are less races than normal this weekend at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center, after hundreds of Greyhound racing dogs came down with kennel cough.
"There's a mild strain of kennel cough right now," said Jim Simms, vice president of marketing at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center. "It's resulted in us canceling a few races, we've had to reduce some of the cards that we're currently running."
Simms said word of the airborne disease came last week, and added it caused the center to cancel 17 races on Wednesday and another 17 on Friday.
He told NEWS9 Saturday crews had to reduce the races from 17 to 15.
Simms said the number one concern at this point is the welfare of the animals, and added around 300 of their 900 racing dogs have come down with the disease.
"Before the races actually begin, they're checked by the state veterinarian," said Simms. "If there's any sign of any concern at all, then the animal is scratched from the card immediately."
As for the folks betting on the dogs, some knew of the recent sickness, but didn't let it affect their night at the tracks.
"We had just heard that there might be some kennel cough going around and we came down to bet on some dogs," said Steubenville resident Paul Filtz. "And I guess there is fewer dogs to bet on, which gives me a better chance of winning."
Simms said Wheeling Island workers are notifying all customers of the racing changes, and adds he's hoping things will be back to normal later next week.
As for the rest of the weekend, Simms said they would normally run a 20-race program on Sunday, but they've cut it down to 10.
He said this will be the case for Monday and Wednesday of next week.
Natalie Pasquarella, NEWS9
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