Vaccinating your pet can save her from contracting a variety of nasty illnesses including rabies. The pet loving folks at MyPet.com are encouraging all pet owners to join their Vote for Vaccination campaign to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and which vaccinations best suit your pet's lifestyle.

To see which vaccines your pet may need, take MyPet.com's risk assessment quiz and discuss the results with your veterinarian to develop a personalized vaccination schedule for your cat or dog.

Vaccination tips:

• Every pet should visit his or her veterinarian regularly and receive regular vaccinations in order to stay healthy.
• Core vaccines are generally recommended for all pets. Lifestyle vaccines are designed for pets that are at risk for certain diseases based on their daily routines.
• The risk assessment on www.mypet.com helps educate pet owners about what diseases their pet may be at risk for and what to ask their veterinarian about at their next visit.

Other activities available at www.mypet.com include:

• Upload photos of their pets to the interactive campaign map
• See what clinics in their area are supporting the campaign
• Enter a caption contest and win a prize
• Watch videos of Mutt and Kitty in action on the campaign trail as they talk about ways to keep their pet healthy

Be sure to catch MyPet.com's spokesperson, Mutt, in an adorable (and educational) video in which he recalls his bout with dog flu and schools his friends and us on the symptoms of dog flu.

Remember, a healthy pet is a happy pet!

If you've ever wondered if your dog can get the flu, the answer is yes! While it's not the same strain of flu virus that humans contract, it's just as serious and worthy of special shout-out to my followers.

About dog flu

• Canine Influenza is a very serious threat to dogs and its symptoms can easily be confused with Bordetella (canine cough).
• Canine influenza only affects dogs and cannot be passed to humans.
• The virus that causes flu in dogs—canine influenza virus (CIV) H3N8—was first identified in January 2004. Dog flu cases have now been reported in 39 states.
• Because most dogs have no natural immunity against CIV, virtually all dogs exposed to the virus become infected.

Risk factors for dogs

• Just like Bordetella, dogs that spend time at boarding facilities, doggy daycares, groomers, dog parks, and group training are at a high risk of contracting canine influenza.
• Many facilities that require vaccination against Bordetella (canine cough) are beginning to see the benefit of also requiring vaccination against canine influenza.

Symptoms

• The most common sign of dog flu is a soft, wet cough that may last for 3 to 4 weeks. Other signs include fever, runny nose, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
• Like human flu, dog flu can lead to more serious conditions like pneumonia. Up to 8% of dogs that get the flu can die from the infection.
• Recognizing the signs of dog flu is not enough to prevent spreading the disease.
  • About 20% of infected dogs will show no signs of disease but can still spread CIV to other dogs.
  • By the time a CIV-infected dog shows signs of illness, the dog is likely to have stopped spreading the virus.
    • Prior to showing signs of illness, dogs can spread CIV to surrounding objects, which become sources of infection, as well as directly to other dogs.
    • Dog flu cannot be diagnosed by signs alone. A veterinarian will need to perform blood tests to determine if a dog has the flu.
      

How you can protect your dog against the flu

• Vaccinating your pet is the best way to protect him/her against CIV.
• The first CIV vaccine approved in 2009, Nobivac^® Canine Flu H3N8 from Merck Animal Health, has been shown to reduce the spread of disease among dogs.
• Owners should talk to their veterinarians and see if their dog’s lifestyle merits vaccination.

For more information on Canine Influenza check out MyPet.com.

This post is published courtesy of DogTime's Blog Champions program.

The Dog Whisperer has become so much a part of our culture that I catch my sister trying to "Tssst!" her grand-dog into behaving as I try "Tsst-zing!" my husband into doing the same. I imagine there are millions of Dog Whisperer devotees, just like us, who are also doing their darndest to mimic Cesar's mystical methods. LOL!

Check-out the Captain of Canine Conversation in this hysterical video:

As another season of the Dog Whisperer comes to a close we thank our lucky liver treats for Cesar's serene supervision as we delved deeper into the canine psyche. Only two episodes left and we're here to tell you that they were worth the wait!

Tonight's episode, "Hollywood Hounds" features fitness guru, Jillian Michaels, and her Chihuahua, Richard, who is in desparate need of a mental "chill pill." Jillian is in the process of adopting a two year old daughter and doesn't want to fear for her new babe's safety around her pup.

Next we visit Kelsey Grammer and his wife, Kayte, whose dogs, Elvis and George, have a propensity for pottying indoors rather than dirtying their outdoor play-space. Will Cesar be able to save the day and the carpet?

In next Saturday's episode, "Cesar's Worst Bite," Cesar comes face to face with Holly, a Lab pup with some serious food aggression issues. Cesar learns first-hand just how dangerous this pooch's problem is when he is rushed to the hospital after sustaining a bad bite.

In Cesar's next case we meet Lenie, pregnant and homeless, with an opportunity to make a fresh start courtesty of a women's shelter that is willing to take-in her and her beloved Pit Bull, Tucker. But will Tucker's protective nature keep Lenie from making a better life for her and her unborn baby? Can the Dog Whisperer work his magic and keep this family together?

Tune in to Nat Geo Wild tonight, September 8th, and next Saturday, September 15th, for the exciting, final installments of our favorite Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan!