"It's a new vaccine. The indications are that it is effective in reducing the symptoms of influenza in dogs and so we're hopeful we'll see some good results." Dr. Dan Giangola said.
Giangola, who works at the Animal Health Center on the Upper East Side, says older dogs, dogs who are immuno suppressed and high risk dogs should be at the top of the list to fight the virus.
"We've had problems with it in the past years with outbreaks of influenza and respiratory disease at the dog parks, the dog runs and the kennels," he said.
The first recognized outbreak of the disease happened in 2004 in Florida at a dog track.
Since then, the American Veterinary Medical Association documented CIV in 30 states.
It's most prevalent in New York, Florida, Colorado and Pennsylvania.
That's why kennels in some parts of the country are requiring the vaccines before accepting reservations.
C-I-V is rarely deadly.
The Center for Disease Control says unlike swine flu, humans cannot get this virus from dogs.
Symptoms include nasal discharge, cough and low-grade fever.
Most dogs recover in several weeks, but secondary complications in more severely infected dogs can lead to pneumonia and even death.
The incubation period is two to four days, and pets that look healthy can still spread the germs.
The two flu shots cost about twenty dollars each.
They're given two to four weeks apart to dogs six weeks and older.
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