From a business aspect, it's certainly troubling financially, morally, and emotionally. But as a person, I look at all the illnesses that exist and wonder why, with all the research that has been done, there isn't a vaccine or cure. In comparison, this disease was recognized in 2004, and so the vaccine was out quickly. So I struggle to understand why you would not want to do all that you could for your pet and make this available for your dog. How could you not do it? It just seems like the smartest, easiest, best choice possible.

—Linda Lowney, kennel owner, Langhorne, PA

CIV and canine parainfluenza virus are not the same

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The best treatment approach to canine influenza is effective prevention.

An effective vaccine for canine influenza is available.

Vaccination

Viral disease is best prevented by effective vaccination.26 An effective vaccine for canine influenza is now available. Nobivac® Canine Flu H3N8 from Merck Animal Health has been shown to boost antibody titers to canine influenza virus (CIV) by 5-fold following two 1-mL doses given at least 2 weeks apart. An annual revaccination with one dose is recommended.

The vaccine has been shown to protect dogs against CIV infection by significantly decreasing clinical signs, reducing viral shedding, and reducing CIV-induced lung consolidation.

In addition, vaccination with Nobivac® Canine Flu H3N8 has been shown to reduce the severity of illness in dogs coinfected with CIV and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, which acts as a secondary pathogen that exacerbates CIV-associated disease. 34

The safety of this vaccine has been confirmed after a year of clinical use in more than a million dogs.3

Click here to see clinical efficacy and safety data.



It is recommended that Nobivac® Canine Flu H3N8 be given at the same time as other vaccines targeted at the causative agents of canine infectious respiratory disease, including canine distemper, adenovirus-2, parainfluenza virus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. This approach provides more comprehensive protection against coinfections with other respiratory pathogens and minimizes the risk for more severe disease.2,26 In addition, the awareness that dogs are vaccinated against these pathogens may help to distinguish canine influenza from other respiratory diseases.26

Click here to download a PDF of the carton insert.