SURVEY SAYS: WHAT DID THE FLU DO TO YOU AND YOUR DOGS AND YOUR PLANS...
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entered. Probably no shows till Aug (one show) & none till September. Thank you. —Sue Hewitt • • • • • • • • Staying away from shows until his vaccine works. • • • • • • • • It hasn't really affected my plans. I'm just not doing any inside crating if I don't have to. If I do have to crate inside, I am using sheets to cover the crates. • • • • • • • • I got my dog vaccinated for flu, and we don't plan to attend any shows/performance events until at least the fall. We hope to go to the Aussie nation- als in October. • • • • • • • • I did not pull any of my dogs nor did I get them vaccinated. Other than my regular routine of home and kennel sanitation for floors, crates and equipment with bleach and disinfectant, I did nothing extraordinary. I believe that the media and AKC jumped the gun and overstated the severity of the problem. The early reports of the symptoms do not match the current reports. The charts showing incidences of flu combine avian, swine, equine canine and feline. In addition the charts are based on infor- mation that is at least two years old. The vaccines available are only effective for the flu strain for which they were created. As such the relevance of vaccination is questionable. This canine flu effects dogs much the same way as human flu effects humans. Seniors, the ill, the very young and puppies are most vulnerable. This virus is airborne. In order to avoid bringing it into your house or kennel you would have to re- move your clothing in your garage, toss the clothes into the washing machine then jump into the shower hoping that you do not shed the virus from your hair. All of this was discussed with my veterinarian. I continued to show my dogs and continued with my sanitation routine. None of my dogs are sick with the flu. —Janet Hartmann • • • • • • • • ShowSight wishes health to all dogs and a return to normalcy for their humans real soon. We welcome ideas for Survey Questions. Send your thoughts to: editor@aramediagrp.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
• Call the vet before going in to ensure no sick dogs are in the office (my vet does house calls, LOVE her) • If you go to a show, stay out of the groom- ing area, if possible show and go. • Disinfect your shoes and dolly wheels (I use Listerine in a spray bottle) • Disinfect your kennel with a commercial disinfectant such as Nolvasan. Mop every day. And no, the $10/gal OdoBan does not do the same job as Nolvasan. • Bleach your kennel runs, do it after the sun goes down as sunlight breaks bleach down. You can do a 30:1 dilution , I am more like 8 oz to the gal in a garden sprayer. • If you even suspect a dog is sick, call the vet. • With your vaccination, add Bordatella. —Susan Shephard Deja vu Pekingese ROM • • • • • • • • It has not changed my plans at all. However, all of the dogs that i'm taking to shows every week- end have been given the vaccine. —Robert Perry • • • • • • • • I did not want to panic over this. I read as much as I could find on the H3N2 and H3N8 in order to make an informed decision. I decided to vac- cinate and skip a few shows. I ordered the vaccine that covers both. —Janet Coy, Secoya Whippets • • • • • • • • Had vet give 3 dogs first dose 5/30 Tues before 4 day weekend cluster at Purina. Only one entered & majors. Transported into building in crate & kept at ring side a short time before ring time. Immediately removed crate after showed & re- turned home. Vaccine order received Thurs 6/8 & all other dogs received first dose. Second dose to be given this week as Booster. None of others have been off premises. Even gave first dose to 2 oldest (over 12 yr) toys in poor health and neither had any reaction to vaccine. Risk considered re- action versus IF contracted disease and decided due to health would likely Not survive IF devel- oped Flu symptoms. • • • • • • • • Only one showing in 2 weeks will travel in large RV with friend & be in her Ex pens or crate in bldg (will have 2nd dose before). 1-2 may show end of month at small show at Purina but not yet
144 • S how S ight M agazine , A ugust 2017
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