Cats and H1N1

[aimee]

Any thoughts now that a kitty has gotten it? I'm not one for the whole H1N1 drama (although it deserves caution), however, I hope it won't be as potentially dangerous to kitties. =( My love for my kitties probably exceeds my self preservation instict.

[Barbara]

I teach school and have not had an opportunity to get the shot as pregnant ladies and children are the only ones receiving them around my area at this time. I hate to think that I might become ill and give my kitty the flu. I am anxious to learn more how this flu will effect our cats and how sick they can become.
I do have a poodle and I know there is a dog flu, but it is not the H1N1 flu and there is a vaccine for dogs. I wondering now that it has shown up in pigs and a cat if this same flu will be able to be spread to our dogs also.

[aimee]

I read somewhere a ferret has died from it. I don't want to get my kitty cat sick. I don't see how you can really prevent it in animals either, other than not snuggling them, which they wouldn't understand. =/

[Alison D]

Barbara,
The H1N1 virus is a "SWINE FLU." Viruses naturally occur in pigs like the avian flu virus naturally occurs in birds. The problems occur if the virus mutates to the extent that it is transmissible across species. Those mutations, according to scientists could occur tomorrow or in the next 100 years. No one really knows. The BIG concern is that this particular virus has elements of swine & avian flu leading some to speculate that it may have been originally lab made instead of being a mutation - you know all sorts of bad things are made in labs and of course tested on animals. The other concern is that pigs act as mixing vessels being able to contract both human and swine diseases, therefore the likelihood that viruses will meet & mutate in a pig is high and then become transmissible to humans. Extent of severity is questionable. (see 1918 flu research)

If it is in fact true that a cat as the H1N1 virus (did not hear about that), the questions to ask are which particular variant is it? Can it be transmitted cross species or is it a mutation unto that particular species? The hype around the H1N1 virus is absurd. While I do believe (as do most top scientists worldwide today) that we will be hit by a pandemic in the not too distant future, due to all sorts of elements, vaccinating will not help as the mutations will be continuous and the vaccine will not keep up.So you could get vaccinated and actually lower your immunity to a mutation down the line. This is not the info automatically furnished to the public as then no-one would get vaccines!
One is best to keep one's immune system up, and do the same for our loved pets and REALLY take the time to do the research to understand what exactly this is all about scientifically (there are lots of reputable articles out there that are easy to understand), and not just accept the word of the CDC and the government who stand to profit big time financially from large scale vaccination efforts.
Some things to seriously think about...
Alison

[Carmela]

I'm a respiratory therapist and I've had several patients with H1N1. When it comes to protecting my kitties I do what the hospital employees with kids do, I take my shoes and scrubs off in the laundry room and change into something else and then wash my hands before touching the kitties, with other things like RSV I take a shower when I get home just to be on the safe side. Although that may be a little extreme for those of you who don't come into contact with sick people on a regular basis.

I'm with Aimee though, I was much more blasé about the whole thing before that kitty got sick ;)

[Michael William Shea]

There are a lot cats that have shown up with the HINI virus. One in Denver, and quite a few in the mountains. The owners believed they were safe the virus, and spread it to their cats.

[Barbara]

Michael Shea- you said a lot of cats have shown up with the H1N1 virus. Are these cats surviving? How bad is it for the cats who have it. If we can pass the H1N1 virus to our cats can we also pass it to our dogs? Is there a H1N1 vaccine for our cats to take?? My cat recently went for his annual check up and vaccines that were needed. My vet that I do trust didn't mention the H1N1 in cats or a cat vaccine for it. I didn't bring it up as I had heard of no cats with it at that time. Does my cat now need another vaccine than the regular ones our cats get each year at their wellness exams?
You are a vet. What do you think about giving our dogs the dog flu vaccine? My vet and I did talk about that. He does not want to give it at this time as there has not been any of this type flu in our area at all. He said he would contact me to bring the dog in if the dog flu should start to spread to this area. What have you given your own cats and dogs and to the cats and dogs that you treat?

[Michael William Shea]

Let me try to answer these questions for you. These cats are surviving, through proper medical and supportive care.
A thirteen year old cat in Iowa, tested posistive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Two of it's three members did have the H1N1 virus and passed the virus to the cat. It cannot pass to any other kind of animals or people. Pigs, birds, turkeys, ferrets, and cats have been tested posistive for the H1N1 influenza virus.
There is no vaccination for your animals for the H1N1 virus. The ferrets virus is called the Influenza A virus. There is a canine influenza vaccine, which does protect the dog from the H3N8 canine flu virus. It will not protect your pet from the 2009 H1N1 virus. There are no reports of dogs that have been infected with the 2009 H1N1 Virus.
You can only treat an animal with an secondary bacterial infection. There is no treatment for viral. The worst case has been Pneumonia , and respiratory illness. That is currently being treated with loving supportive care and a broad spectrum bactericidal antimicrobial antibiotic. The animals received the virus through their owners, I recommend that owners are to be more careful. If you live in the mountains you can still be infected by the virus, and need to take the same precautions.

I am not your vet, and cannot recommend whether you dog should receive the vaccination. If your dogs lifestyle however puts your dog at risk then, if it was my pet absolutely. How they can catch it, through food bowls, water bowls, leashes, collars, and surface kennels. I will not take my dog to the dog park or anywhere else that my animals can catch the virus.
How to further protect your pets, isolation, hand washing, covering couphs, and sneezes. Minimize contact with your pets during the first 24 hours.
A cat with FELV or FIV is more susceptible to the virus. Keeping your
pets healthy through optimal nutrition is a good way to keep your pets healthy.
A greyhound I believed died of hemmorage pneumonia. Greyhounds that are being raced, have a high chance of developing the flu, because it is passed through saliva.
If your animal does have the H1N1 virus, it cannot pass through to you or any other animal.
That is all I know and can think of for now, I have a horrible headache and it needs to go away. Good luck with your animals and listen to your vet.

[Barbara]

Thanks for all the good info, Michael. My cat is 7 but is healthy and is current with all checkups, dental cleanings and vaccines from my vet.
My 1 year old large miniature poodle is also current on everything available that my vet thinks she needs except for that dog flu shot. He talked with me about the greyhounds. He told me he did not want to give it yet to the dogs he treats, but said he watching that flu carefully and if it gets into this area of Texas or maybe he even meant in Texas he would notify all his petowners immediately and give the vaccine. He also talked with me about the dog flu being in some northern states. I do trust my vet and he is great about sending us out email newsletters and notices of what our pets need as well as dropping us postcards in the mail. He also has pet portals on his website where we are able to go in and look at our pet's medical records at any time we wish. We are able to see any medication our animals have received as well as regular vaccines etc. I am like you and have never taken my dog to dog parks as I just cannot think that could be healthy. There is no one here at our parks that checks shot records for the dogs that are there. I will not even take my dog to Petsmart with me. My groomer for my dog is a lady at the vet's office and the dogs she grooms are all current on shots with their shot records being right there in the same building as she and the doc are. To be groomed there the dogs must be current on their shots. That is the closest my dog gets to other dogs. I do not even walk her because one never knows what other dogs walk in the same area or what other wild animals could have walked there also. (Yes, she has had that vaccine also.) My dog gets her exercise in my large fenced in back yard and we have lots of playtime and outside activities with her there too. Lots of running, fetching and chasing.
I appreciate your answers and I do hope your headache will go away quickly.
Thanks again.

[Michael William Shea]

Thanks Barbara, it is gone. I have a hard time thinking with a migraine and glad that my forum made a little sense. I would never suggest vaccinating your pet in a low incident area, such as yours. I haven't gave my dogs any flu shots, and will not. Those who continue to go to the dog park, I would highly recommend it to them.