Best Friends Influenza Vaccine now REQUIRED for play groups!!! HELP!

[mrstamil]

I need some help here. We leave in 12 days and a wake up. I just realized that in the 3rd paragraph of an email that Best Friends sent me two weeks ago, that the vaccine is now required. That is fine, except you must wait 2 weeks for the booster and then 2 weeks before your dog can be in play groups! We're out of time!!!
Anyone have another place fairly close by where we can board our girl?

 

[FtW Mike]

My first suggestion is you check with your vet and is this something you need to be concerned with. Your pup(s) may already be covered. If not then maybe just check with Best Friends and see about private not group play

 

[mrstamil]

My Vet's not really keen on the influenza vaccine and doesn't even offer it up here. We've decided to cancel our reservations down there and board her at home where there isn't a requirment. Anyone else who plans to board there needs to plan ahead though!Start those vaccines at least 4-6 weeks before the trip if you want to board at Best Friends AND participate in a play group!

 

[FtW Mike]

We spoke with our vet on just this subject yesterday. At home for us this really isn't a big deal. Human and canine influenza are not readily spread from one to the other. Our yard is large enough and fenced in that they have plenty of room to run around and savage I mean play while being away from the other pups in the neighborhood. But on our trip we will be bringing them to a variety of dog parks . Hence it might be worth it. When they go for their Lyme Booster next month they will start flu shots

 

[Aerodyne78]

Canine Influenza is highly contagious between dogs & humans can carry it on them & infect another dog. I learned this the hard way when we boarded at a facility that did not require the vaccine. At the time, the Canine Flu was running rampant here. Our dog showed symptoms the day after she got home. She passed away less than 24 hours from Canine Influenza Strain B. The highly-regarded specialty vet we took her to informed us that it is definitely contagious. I wasn't even allowed into the main vet office to use the bathroom because I had contact with my dog & may spread it to other sick or healthy dogs that were in the office. It's a rough illness & is sudden.

 

[FtW Mike]

Canine Influenza is highly contagious between dogs & humans can carry it on them & infect another dog. I learned this the hard way when we boarded at a facility that did not require the vaccine. At the time, the Canine Flu was running rampant here. Our dog showed symptoms the day after she got home. She passed away less than 24 hours from Canine Influenza Strain B. The highly-regarded specialty vet we took her to informed us that it is definitely contagious. I wasn't even allowed into the main vet office to use the bathroom because I had contact with my dog & may spread it to other sick or healthy dogs that were in the office. It's a rough illness & is sudden.

Aerodyne my condolences over the loss of your furbaby i know how hard it can be.
It was strange but yesterday just before we went for the KIDS' first year shots is when I read this thread and brought it up to our Vet while she says Canine Influenza is being reported here it is in other places so her recommendation was to wait till they get the booster for Lyme to start that series. Just before we left for the Vet we were watching a program where the topic of discussion was concerning Hipster dog owners refusing to get their dogs the standard vaccinations for fear of causing Autism which studies have shown to be contributing to 0.04% of autism in canines

 

[Aerodyne78]

Aerodyne my condolences over the loss of your furbaby i know how hard it can be.
It was strange but yesterday just before we went for the KIDS' first year shots is when I read this thread and brought it up to our Vet while she says Canine Influenza is being reported here it is in other places so her recommendation was to wait till they get the booster for Lyme to start that series. Just before we left for the Vet we were watching a program where the topic of discussion was concerning Hipster dog owners refusing to get their dogs the standard vaccinations for fear of causing Autism which studies have shown to be contributing to 0.04% of autism in canines

Thank you for your condolences, I greatly appreciate it! I didn't even know dogs can have autism, but it makes sense. I hope you & your pups have safe travels!

 

[sippican]

Aerodyne, sorry for your loss.
Mrstamil - I am glad your vet was able to guide you.
Such a difficult decision to vaccinate or not and there will be no resolution to the debate on these forums, however I applaud those who take the time to do a bit of research in order to make informed deciions. We do not consider ourselves "hipster" dog owners, but have become increasingly more aware of the dangers that vaccinations and other "routine treatments" can present to our pets (after almost losing one of our furbabies to a simple flea and tick application). We have made many changes in the way we view and provide healthcare for our dogs. We are not anti-vaccine and our two dogs have been vaccinated, but now get a titer test to check immunity levels rather than routine yearly vaccines.There is a huge body of evidence supporting that we over-vaccinate our pets. Vaccines can surpress immunity. My vet does not feel the flu vaccine is warranted for my dogs even though they frequent dog parks, etc., and they have healthy immune systems. They also do not receive Lyme vaccines even though we summer in tick infested New England. I realize not everyone will agree. Even boarding at a facility that requires the vaccine may not protect a vulnerable pet. Here is an article that may be of interest to some:
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/canine-influenza-what-is-the-real-threat/
Aren't all of our furbabies lucky to have owners that care so much about them?

 

[FortForever]

Here in Florida, we're having a current epidemic of dog flu. First time I've ever heard of it here, but it's hitting hard. I would get your dogs vaccinated, if you are visiting, even if they won't be in doggy daycare.

 

[sippican]

To anyone making a decision about their pets' health, educate yourself; although it can be a serious disease for some dogs (very few), it is still worth weighing the risks of the vaccine vs. the illness.
From The American Vetinary Association:
https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/Canine-Influenza-Backgrounder.aspx
There is no documented "epidemic" and cases of flu have been reported in a number of other states. Vaccinated dogs can still get the flu, it may just reduce the severity and duration.
We would consider it if our pets were being placed in the higher-risk environment of a boarding facility (even then, there is a low incidence of infection, particularly in otherwise healthy dogs - perhaps due to the vaccine requirement). We live in the area part-time, and my "boys" use the dog parks at our home and at FW. After consultation with our vet, we have decided not to vaccinate against the flu.
Mrstamil - hope you had a great trip!

 

[tiggerdad]

The vaccine is along same lines as the human vaccine for the flu. It DOES NOT prevent you or dog from getting it as there are several strains. It does HELP however, and may reduce severity of symptoms if you/they get it.

The human flu shot is only good about 90 days. I'm not sure on the dog.

 

[FtW Mike]

I will say this about vaccines. We adopted our Maggie when she was about 4 months old from our Local ASPCA. aaaahe was one of many in smaller containment pens with a common hallway. That night she developed a cough so severe she could hold nothing down food water nothing. when I took her out I saw she was also full of worms .Seeing her like that I took her to Emergency Vet where Thankfully our Vet was on duty. She gave us meds to last until Monday (This was a Friday) something to calm her stomach and de-worming med. for the next day along with instructions to me to keep her undr observation and if she still couldn't hold anything down after 2 hours bring her back and an appointment with her in her normal office for first thing Monday Morning. we were back 3 hours later for her to get a saline IV to re-hydrate her and a sedative so she would sleep the rest of the night. We were assured she had been treated for Kennel cough and worms and her we were with a dog on deaths doorstep because she wasn't properly vaccinated.
Today all of ours get those mandated by the state plus kennel cough and Lyme disease . No problems and as a bonus I don't get Kennel cough either as I tend to get half of it sneezed into my face

 

[Boomer1]

Thanks for this information. Although we don't plan to bring our dog this year, I will be sure to plan ahead if our plans change. The vaccine for kennel cough is similar to that for influenza in that it does not cover all strains. Our dog attends " doggy day care " and has all required vaccines; however, last year she contracted kennel cough.
Fortunately she recovered. My condolences Aerodyne for your loss.