MADISON, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merck Animal Good health (known as MSD Animal Good health outside the United States and Canada) today launched the multi-city If This Canine Could Talk tour to enhance awareness of pet dog influenza (CIV)—a highly contagious illness that within the last year has actually impacted dogs in a lot more compared to half of the country. The initiative is being conducted in collaboration along with photographer Elias Weiss Friedman and his renowned photo-documentary collection The Dogist. His unique storytelling through distinctive photographs will certainly tips reach dog owners along with critical guide regarding the risk factors for pet dog influenza and the importance of prevention.
“The Dogist documentary collection tells unique stories regarding the lives of dogs through photographs, celebrating the beauty of dogs,” said Elias Weiss Friedman of The Dogist. “One of the crucial stories to tell is regarding a dog’s Good health needs, so I am excited to collaborate on this campaign to tips a lot more dog owners know the importance of protecting their dogs versus pet dog influenza.”
As portion of the campaign, Merck Animal Good health will certainly host pop-up events at local Canine parks in areas of the country impacted by pet dog influenza outbreaks. The initial event will certainly be held in Chicago, which is where the very first outbreak occurred in 2015 and has actually continued to be a hotspot for CIV cases. These events will certainly give a fun, relaxed environment in which dog owners Can easily get hold of the facts regarding pet dog influenza, as well as various other crucial pointers to sustain pet dogs healthy.
“I’m portion of this initiative since I’ve seen the devastating impact of CIV initial hand—from a dog’s Good health and the emotional toll it takes on owners, to the impact it Can easily have actually on local businesses and the community,” said Natalie Marks, D.V.M., co-owner of the Blum Animal Hospital in Chicago, and national veterinary spokesperson for the If This Canine Could Talk campaign. “Once CIV broke in our area, we were seeing upwards of 15 cases a day and were working tirelessly to contain the spread of a quite infectious strain of the disease, H3N2. I strongly recommend that dog owners along with dogs that are social and regularly commingle along with various other dogs speak to their veterinarian now regarding exactly what is right for their dog and to fully know exactly what puts a Canine at risk for CIV.”
Canine influenza Can easily spread rapidly among social dogs in urban areas, doggie daycares, boarding facilities, Canine parks, sporting and reveal events and any sort of location where dogs commingle. Through the If This Canine Could Talk initiative, dog owners will certainly gain crucial assistance in to exactly how a dog’s story—or lifestyle—Can easily lead to an increased risk of that Canine contracting pet dog influenza. They will certainly likewise learn regarding personal preventative measures that Can easily be taken, including vaccination.
“At Merck Animal Health, we are dog owners and Canine lovers ourselves and we already know firsthand the joy dogs bring to our lives. We know that dogs are a portion of our families and we wish to sustain them happy and healthy, too,” said Kathleen Heaney, D.V.M., Executive Director, Companion Animal Technical Services, Merck Animal Health. “This is why we are so committed to ensuring that dog owners have actually the guide and resources required to protect their four-legged family members from this preventable disease.”
In addition to engaging along with a local veterinarian throughout each event, dog owners will certainly likewise have actually the opportunity to meet and have actually their dogs photographed by The Dogist. Several dogs that were impacted by pet dog influenza will certainly likewise be highlighted throughout the events—including incredible photos and their stories which will certainly be memorialized in an e-schedule developed by The Dogist.
Those that are unable to attend an event are encouraged to support the campaign to enhance awareness of pet dog influenza by posting photos of their dogs on Twitter using #IfThisDogCouldTalk and tagging @MerckAH. Decide on photos could likewise be featured in The Dogist e-book. For updates on local events, look out for posts from The Dogist on Facebook and Twitter. For a lot more guide regarding pet dog influenza, visit www.doginfluenza.com or visit the If This Canine Could Talk website at http://ift.tt/2ab3k5K. Owners that suspect their Canine might have actually pet dog influenza or are concerned regarding their risk must speak along with their veterinarian.
About pet dog Influenza (CIV)
Canine influenza has actually only been present in the United States due to the fact that 2003, meaning numerous dog owners are unaware that dogs Can easily get hold of the Canine flu—the spread of which is exacerbated through social activity among dogs. In 2015, a brand-new strain of pet dog influenza emerged in the United States—H3N2—which is estimated to make ten times a lot more virus compared to previous strains and has actually already caused outbreaks in half of every one of U.S. states. According to clinical studies by researchers at the University of Wisconsin, H3N2 might be lose for an extended period of time—up to 24 days, which is far longer compared to exactly what is seen along with H3N8.1 since the H3N2 strain is relatively new, close to 100 percent of dogs are naïve to the brand-new virus and have actually no natural immunity to it, meaning virtually every one of exposed dogs become infected. Prevention is the most effective approach, and Merck Animal Good health offers vaccines to protect versus the two CIV H3N2 and H3N8.
Common clinical signs of pet dog influenza consist of coughing, fever, sneezing, ocular discharge and lethargy. In significant cases, pneumonia Can easily develop, and up to eight percent of critically ill dogs might die from complications.
About Merck Animal Health
For 125 years, Merck has actually been a global healthcare leader working to tips the globe be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Good health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal Good health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Good health offers veterinarians, farmers, dog owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and Good health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Good health is dedicated to keeping and boosting the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Good health is present in a lot more compared to 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For a lot more information, visit http://ift.tt/MuEgKb or connect along with us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @MerckAH.
About The Dogist
The Dogist is a photo-documentary collection regarding the beauty of dogs started by Elias Weiss Friedman in October 2013 and based from brand-new York City. The collection has actually traveled to over 30 cities about the globe and developed a schedule in 2015, The Dogist: Photographic Encounters along with 1,000 Dogs. To learn more, follow The Dogist on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) entails “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the most recent beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results might differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties consist of yet are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest fee and currency exchange fee fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and Good health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward Good health care cost containment; technological advances, brand-new products and patents accomplished by competitors; challenges inherent in brand-new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of global economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and various other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any sort of forward-looking statement, whether as a result of brand-new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could trigger results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements Can easily be found in the company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s various other filings along with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).
1 Updates in pet dog Influenza Virus: Management, treatment and prevention of disease. VETgirl Webinar, July 27, 2015. Archived at http://ift.tt/2anW2yG.
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