Canine flu not the same as human flu

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DALLAS, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A Texas dog groomer said she requires all dogs have a flu vaccine -- for canine flu -- before she'll board them or groom them.

Becky Langbein said she wants to avoid what happened to a Colorado groomer -- he had to close his business for weeks after 160 dogs all came down with the canine flu, some dogs became severely ill and it cost the owner thousands of dollars in lost business, KXAS-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said canine flu is a completely different strain and poses little to no threat to humans, but it is contagious to dogs as influenza is in humans.

Langbein said it took her 17 years to build her business to two locations and 23 employees and she doesn't want to risk the dogs she cares for or her reputation.

"It doesn't matter how clean your facility is or what you do. It's an airborne virus that can be passed from dog to another," Langbein said.

Trish White, a veterinarian at Rendon Road Animal Clinic, in Burleson, Texas, said more businesses should follow Langbein's lead and consider the requiring the canine flu shot as well.

"You'd start with one case, and then in three days you might have 20 cases and then in two weeks it could be 100 cases," White told KXAS-TV.