This is Ruff! Dog Flu Outbreak in 9 States, Including New York

The extreme flu season isn't just hitting humans across the country. Dogs are suffering too. Especially in nine states that have seen a recent outbreak, including New York and Pennsylvania.

DogFlu.com shows a map of dog influenza outbreaks across the U.S. All the states in red are where the recent outbreaks have occurred.

Credit - DogFlu.com

Dog Flu Symptoms

Symptoms are similar to humans - coughing, sneezing, eye and nose discharge, fever, lethargy, and trouble breathing.

How do dogs catch the flu? A lot like humans do, according to Dr. Jess Fejes, Medical Director at the Veterinary Emergency Group.

"It’s going to be somewhat specific, based on region and what they are exposed to, but, generally, dogs exposed to a lot of other dogs, dogs in doggie day care, boarding, things like that," Dr. Fejes told Fox 29.

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Dog Vaccines

There are limited treatment options after a dog is already infected. But there is a preventative vaccine. Not every dog needs the vaccine, but if a dog is social, it’s something an owner might want to consider.

Pet owners can still ensure their pooch stays safe this flu season without a vaccine. Since the viruses spread through the air, social places like dog parks can be risky for man's best friend and should be avoided during the outbreak.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says this is a relatively new disease in dogs. But very few will die from it.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds

Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.

Check out these 50 fascinating facts about dogs:

Source: This is Ruff! Dog Flu Outbreak in 9 States, Including New York

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