Dog Flu Day: Save Money, Protect Your Dog

If you don’t believe the dog flu is a big deal in the Chicago area, your head is in the sand. The canine influenza virus (CIV, also called the dog flu) may not be in your backyard, but that doesn’t mean it’s not pervasive in the Chicago area. Here’s one reason we know this: The virus has been an ongoing problem at many Chicago-area animal shelters, and rescues have seen it, too. The Chicago Anti Cruelty Society had to shut down dog adoptions for a time, twice.

Unless your dog has absolutely no contact (and I mean no contact) with other dogs, your dog is susceptible. There is only one exception: vaccinated dogs.

Yes, you read that right. A simple vaccine can prevent your dog from getting and spreading the potentially deadly CIV. The vaccine, manufactured by Merck Animal Health, can also prevent your dog from requiring the sometimes-expensive treatment for canine influenza.

On Wednesday, March 14, many Chicago-area veterinarians are participating in Dog Flu Vaccination Day, offering the vaccine at a discount.

Here are the Chicago-area clinics participating in Dog Flu Vaccination Day:

Ace Animal Hospital
5233 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60641

Amber Leaf Animal Hospital
28 Roosevelt Rd.
Winfield, IL 60190

Animal Care Center of Plainfield
14411 S. Route 59
Plainfield, IL 60544

Animal Care Center of Shorewood
189 Brook Forest Ave.
Shorewood, IL 60404

Animal Care Center of St. John
10255 Wicker Ave. #1
St. John, IN 46373

Animal Care Clinic
477 Briargate Dr.
South Elgin, IL 60177

Animal Care Clinic of Fox Valley
230 Stonegate Rd.
Algonquin, IL 60102

Animal Care Clinic of Geneva
1881 S. Randall Rd.
Geneva, IL 60134

Animal Health Clinic & Hospital of Lake County
3479 Washington St.
Gurnee, IL 60031

Animal Hospital of Streamwood
904 E. Irving Park Rd.
Streamwood, IL 60107

Animal Med Center of Fort Sheridan
720 Sheridan Rd.
Highwood, IL 60040

Auburn Animal Hospital
8256 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60620

Avondale Animal Hospital
6146 N. Northwest Hwy.
Chicago, IL 60631

Barrington Square Animal Hospital
2370 W. Higgins Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169

Best Friends Total Pet Care
22096 N. Pet Lane
Prairie View, IL 60069

Bloomingdale Animal Hospital
290 Glen Ellyn Rd.
Bloomingdale, IL 60108

Blum Animal Hospital
3219 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657

Brumley Veterinary Clinic
5238 Main St. #106
Lisle, IL 60532

Countryside Vet Center
9823 W. 55th St.
Countryside, IL 60525

County Line Pet Hospital
3312 S. Chicago Rd.
Steger, IL 60475

Coyne Veterinary Center Portage
3411 Airport Rd.
Portage, IN 46368

Downers Grove Animal Clinic
941 63rd St.
Downers Grove, IL 60516

Evergreen Park Animal Hospital
3000 W. 95th St.
Evergreen Park, IL 60805

Forest View Animal Hospital
744 W. Algonquin Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195

Frankfort Animal Clinic
20601 S. LaGrange Rd., Suite 101
Frankfort, IL 60423

Frisky Dog
9216 47th St.
Brookfield, IL 60513

Glen Ellyn Animal Hospital
21 S. Park Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Glencoe Animal Hospital
1820 Skokie Blvd.
Northbrook, IL 60062

Hinsdale Animal Hospital
218 W. Ogden Ave.
Hinsdale, IL 60521

Illiana Vet Hospital
16259 Van Dam Rd.
South Holland, IL 60473

Lavitt Animal Hospital
8450 Waukegan Rd.
Morton Grove, IL 60053

Mallard Point Animal Hospital
25520 S. Pheasant Lane
Channahon, IL 60410

Merrick Animal Hospital
9115 Ogden Ave.
Brookfield, IL 60513

 Midwest Animal Hospital
11205 183rd Place
Orland Park, IL 60467

Milaknis Animal Hospital
5638 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659

Mount Plaines Animal Hospital
888 E. Northwest Hwy.
Mount Prospect, IL 60056

Niles Animal Hospital
7278 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Niles, IL 60714

Northwest Animal Hospital
2024 S. River Rd.
Des Plaines, IL 60018

Oswego Animal Hospital
1280 U.S. Highway 34
Oswego, IL 60543

Randall Orchard Crossing Animal Hospital
1045 N. Orchard Rd.
North Aurora, IL 60542

Randall Road Animal Hospital
1580 Carlemont Dr.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Randall Road Animal Hospital of South Elgin
207 Randall Rd.
South Elgin, IL 60177

West Loop Animal Hospital
815 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

Woodlawn Animal Hospital
6523 S. King Dr.
Chicago, IL 60637

If your clinic isn’t listed, use #ChicagoCIVDay on Twitter or Facebook to search for your dog’s veterinary hospital.

Read more about the dog flu at doginfluenza.com.