Q: My dog’s annual physical is coming up soon, and my veterinarian is sure to recommend the flu shot, which I’ve declined in the past. I’m rethinking that after a friend’s dog came down with the disease. Please tell me about dog flu.
A: Dog flu, formally known as canine influenza, was first recognized in the United States in 2004. It is caused by two strains of the influenza A virus: H3N8 and the more common H3N2.
