New Bivalent Vaccine Covers Both Dog Flu Strains

Canine influenza virus (CIV) is here to stay, according to Dr. Natalie Marks of Blum Animal Hospital, Chicago. The new bivalent vaccine covers both known U.S. strains of dogs flu (H3N2 and H3N8), so where both strains are active – only one vaccine is now required.

It you are boarding or kenneling your dog – think in advance, since a booster needs to be administered about three weeks after the initial injection.

And, so you know – dog flu is very contagious, so any dog that is social in an obvious way, like going to doggy daycare or dog parks, or in a not so obvious way, like meeting other dogs on the street or even going high rise elevators, may be susceptible, as Dr. Marks says.

Learn more about dog flu here.