A strain of flu virus that infects dogs has erupted in the New York City area, including northern New Jersey and the lower Hudson Valley. The strain, H3N8, is extremely contagious and is often spread when dogs are kept in confined areas, such as kennels or daycare facilities. For this reason, local vets are making flu shots available to dogs in the area and is recommended for those that are going to be boarded over the Thanksgiving holidays.
So far, reported cases have been sporadic. The New York Daily News reports that an animal shelter in Bergen County, New Jersey, shut down for two weeks in October due to a flu outbreak, and three other cases have been confirmed in Westchester County.
