As if the swine flu wasn’t  enough for your family to worry about, now some pet owners are also concerned about a different type of threat – dog flu.

Since 2004, the Canine Influenza Virus has been spreading across the United States, infecting dogs with sneezes and sniffles. While dog flu hasn’t reached the Truckee Meadows yet, local veterinarians say it’s just across our state’s borders.

Local dog owner, Stephanie Waite says while she has a close relationship with her two dogs, communicating with them about their health can be a problem.

“Your dog can’t walk up to you and say ‘I don’t feel well mom. I have a stuffy nose.’ So I believe its important to vaccinate them,” said Waite.

But Waite says she doesn’t know much about the dog flu…or how to prevent it. So we went to the experts.

Reno veterinarian, Tori Indart, says there’s been no confirmed cases of Canine Influenza in Nevada, but positive tests in California means it could be getting closer.

“We certainly could see it. Whether we will remains to be seen. It’s spread through the air and also through direct contact,” said Indart.

The virus can also live on surfaces for a short time, but it can be killed with cleansers or simple soap and water. Indart says almost any dog that’s exposed to the flu, will be infected with it, but its rarely life-threatening.

“Twenty percent of those won’t show any signs at all. The majority will show signs like coughing, sneezing,” she added.

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