On March 20, 2018, news broke that eight dogs had died at a Petsmart boarding
facility in Oklahoma. The story made national headlines, as people were
shocked and saddened by the news. Petsmart released a statement saying that
an isolated incident of dog flu had led to the deaths, and that they were
working with the CDC to investigate the matter.
While the cause of death has not been definitively determined, it is believed
that the dogs contracted a virulent strain of dog flu while at the Petsmart
boarding facility. This particular strain of dog flu is highly contagious and
can be deadly, particularly to young or old dogs, or dogs with compromised
immune systems. It is unclear how the virus made its way into the facility, but
it is believed that another dog who was boarding at Petsmart may have been
infected and spread the virus to the other dogs.
The eight dogs who died were all found to have symptoms consistent with dog flu,
including coughing, sneezing, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Dog flu is a
relatively new disease, first appearing in 2004, and as such, many dogs are not
immunized against it. There is no cure for dog flu, but there are treatments
available that can help lessen the symptoms and make your dog more comfortable. If your dog is showing any signs of illness, it is important to take them to the
veterinarian right away.
Petsmart released a statement saying that an isolated incident of dog flu had led to the deaths, and that they were working with the CDC to investigate the matter. While the cause of death has not been definitively determined, it is believed that the dogs contracted a virulent strain of dog flu while at the Petsmart boarding facility. This particular strain of dog flu is highly contagious and can be deadly, particularly to young or old dogs, or dogs with compromised immune systems.
