If you are a dog owner, this is definitely something to be aware of.

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According to the Montana Department of Livestock, Canine Influenza has been suspected as the potential cause of dogs getting deathly ill in Montana. Sicks dogs have been reported in Bozeman, Livingston, Billings, Butte, Roundup, and Red Lodge. Several clinics are seeing multiple dogs per day.

"Veterinarians have reported dogs with coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever, similar to a sever case of kennel cough."

-Dr. Tahnee Szymanski. Assistant State Veterinarian.

Several Veterinarians in the Bozeman area are working with university and industry diagnostic labs to collect samples from pets that have been sick in hopes of identifying the cause of illness. Veterinarians believe the cause of the illness is Canine Influenza due to the severity of the illness, the lack of protection from prior vaccination, and preliminary tests suggestive of influenza exposure.

Until the outbreak runs its course, DOL recommends that pets owners consider limiting their dog's contact with other pets in the community. Most cases can be attributed to shared items such as public water bowls or exposure to other dogs at dog parks, events, and facilities with other dogs.

Canine Influenza is not a reportable disease in the state of Montana. There is no evidence that the Canine Influenza virus infects people.

For more information of the Montana Department of Livestock, click here.

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