Here is how my vet in Ontario explained why dogs should be vaccinated for the canine influenza virus (CIV):
As with most vaccinations (rabies being a notable exception... it always works), protection is primarily gained by the whole population being protected. If 100% of the dogs are vaccinated, the medication will work 100% of the time but if only 40% are vaccinated, the success plummets to about 40%. Despite that, the dogs that are treated will get a significantly less serious version of the illness which is worth considering because the real danger of CIV is that it can lead to 104+ degree fevers and pneumonia.... clearly a danger if the dog is compromised in any way. We have young, healthy dogs so they are in the least "at risk" population but we will get the shots when we return to FL for the same reason I vaccinated my children... I want them to stay safe and we care about the health of the whole dog population around us. If everyone does this, we will not have a problem here.
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