We wanted to alert our membership that canine influenza (H3N2) was detected on Oahu in four dogs from three families at two separate clinics. All affected dogs had been recently boarded at a single facility. Canine influenza virus can cause respiratory disease in dogs that can resemble kennel cough. Less commonly, more severe illness can be observed, especially in dogs that have an underlying health condition.
At this time, there does not seem to be any known spread to other dogs in the local community. Transmission of H3N2 canine influenza virus from dogs to cats has been reported in other outbreaks. To date, there is no evidence that transmission to humans can occur.
Veterinary clinics should take precautions to avoid transmission of the virus between dogs. The AVMA recommends that dogs with clinical signs suggestive of respiratory disease be separated from other dogs. This includes the waiting area, facility entrance/exit, examination/treatment area, and hospitalization ward. Personnel should wear personal protective equipment and disinfect the facility and potential fomites with an appropriate disinfectant. Many commonly used disinfectants are effective against influenza viruses. The EPA maintains a list of products that are registered for use against influenza viruses.
The best test to diagnose acute clinical infections is the PCR test on deep nasal (preferred) or pharyngeal swabs. Viral shedding peaks early in the infection, so the test is of highest value within the first 1-2 days of the onset of clinical signs. Avoid using cotton-tipped wood shaft swabs for sample collection because those materials may inhibit the PCR reaction. Please check with the laboratory ahead of time for their preferred storage tubes; in general, avoid using tubes with additives or gel media.
If you know of any confirmed cases, please contact Hawaii Department of Agriculture at hdoa.vls@hawaii.gov. HVMA leadership is monitoring the situation and can be reached at: public_relations@hawaiivetmed.org. There is also a private Facebook page for HVMA members (veterinarians only) and a specific chat thread to discuss this topic. The Center for Food Security and Public Health has an excellent review of canine influenza. The AVMA and the CDC also have good information available on their websites.
Remember that disaster response is a marathon, not a sprint. Here is an update communicated to us by the team working under Maui Humane Society (MHS).
Due to the severity of the fire and limited access following the event due to safety concerns, there were not nearly the amount of burn survivors as was anticipated. Most likely, those that could be saved have already been rescued, though the field teams are still looking. Thankfully many people were able to evacuate with their pets.
The next phase will include long term community outreach for those who are now living in Lahaina, Napili, and Kapalua, as they no longer have vets on the west side of the island. MHS is leading this effort. They and other nonprofit organizations will have mobile units in West Maui starting tomorrow that will need to be staffed. There won’t be a need for many trained vet professionals all at once, but more likely over a long period of time. We will be helping MHS coordinate the pool of volunteers.
If you are interested, please fill out this online form with your interest/availability in longer term volunteer efforts.
There have been many, many hours of meetings attended by HVMA leadership, Dr. Aleisha Swartz (primary HVMA liaison to HiEMA/ State Emergency Support Functions), Dr. Nate Lam (volunteer), MHS staff, all government agencies (county, state, fed) and non-governmental organizations (e.g. American Red Cross, ASPCA). We are doing our best to identify needs and respond appropriately in a rapidly changing and challenging situation. The right people are getting in place for the long term plan. Emergency management meetings are discussing the following considerations: getting feed & water to livestock whose pasture has burnt, disease management from decomposition, marine pollution, trapping feral/strays when they re-emerge, short and long term sheltering and feeding of displaced people and pets, keeping families together with pets, veterinary needs, etc.
HVMA’s role in this emergency currently is supportive to governmental agencies and organizations like MHS that are acting under the emergency declaration. We are making every effort to coordinate volunteers, gather information on needs, and share information on resources and identify information and needs gaps. We are also coordinating support offered from national organizations such as AVMF. Most of our time and work is remote and we may need remote volunteer support for this as well, as the board is all volunteering their time to coordinate this effort.
A call to action- if your HVMA membership is not current please RENEW today! The more members we have, the stronger we are in times like this, and the more resources we have to support these efforts.
We hope this helps with some of the questions and anticipation out there. Thanks again for all your care, concern, kokua, and patience! We are proud to be a part of the HVMA and the Hawaii vet community. Let’s continue to make our community stronger!
The Honolulu Street Dog Coalition is a state chapter of the national Street Dog Coalition, which is a nonprofit organization aimed to provide free veterinary care and related services to pets of people affected by homelessness. The Honolulu Street Dog Coalition clinics is led by Aleisha Swartz, DVM and Jerrisa Ching, DVM, and has partnered with the Hawaii H.O.M.E. Project to serve Oahu communities.
The organization is always looking for donations to support the community, supplies, and resources. If you would like to donate, please click the link here. We are also looking for veterinarian and veterinary staff volunteers to help the clinics. If you want to learn more about how to volunteer, please email info@thestreetdogcoalition.org.
October 8, 2023 – The Maui Humane Society continues to coordinate ongoing relief efforts to the people and animals impacted by the Maui Wildfires. Thank you to all those who have already volunteered your time and finances to support these efforts. There is still a need for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/assistants, so please sign up for volunteer shifts here.
Additionally, the HVMA has received a grant from the AVMF to provide reimbursements for airfare for volunteers traveling inter-island to assist the Maui Humane Society. To qualify for this reimbursement, you will need to sign up for your volunteer shift(s) through HVMA and submit your airfare receipts to us. Reimbursement will be made by check after your shift(s) are completed and you have submitted at least 2 pictures taken during your shift(s) for use by AVMF.
August 27, 2023 – The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association would like to thank Adjutant General Kenneth Hara and Brigadier General Steve Logan with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for their efforts working with MEMA (Maui Emergency Management Agency) and Maui Humane Society to help Animal Search and Rescue teams gain access to previously restricted areas on Saturday August 26th. We acknowledge that efforts to search for pet animal survivors are necessarily secondary to ensuring the safety of personnel entering the burn zone and safely securing human remains.
It is important to clarify that steps to provide for animal survivors in the burn zone were taken even when Animal Search & Rescue teams were not allowed access. A FEMA veterinarian has been stationed in the burn zone supporting the canine search teams, and she oversees the delivery of any animals found alive by first responders to the Maui Humane Society for medical care. Food and water were left in various areas throughout the burn zone for any other animals that were hiding from the response teams.
We encourage all who want to provide care to animals in this or future disasters to complete the free FEMA training (ICS 100/200 & IS 700/800) and Community Emergency Response training so they can understand how to best participate in response situations and help their communities.
Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by the fires on Maui and Big Island. In addition to government efforts, the Maui Humane Society, HVMA, and local vets are organizing the veterinary emergency response.
We are so grateful for the mass outpouring of support to the Maui community. Veterinary professional volunteers are needed to assist Maui Humane Society efforts to serve the people and animals affected by the wildfires. Please sign up here if you are interested, and we will contact you as shifts become available.
Help foster a pet! Home to home is helping connect people in need looking for temporary housing for their pet while they are displaced from their homes.
Maui Humane Society has reported they may have a need for feed for large animals including horses, cattle, goats, and pigs. If you are interested in donating any large animal feed or supplies, please contact public_relations@hawaiivetmed.org. For cattle feed/supply donations, please contact the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council.
There are AVMF disaster grants that may be of help to some members.
Disaster reimbursement grants for veterinary medical care, up to $5,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by veterinarians providing emergency veterinary medical care to animal victims of disasters.
Disaster relief grants for veterinarians & veterinary students, up to $2,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred immediately following a disaster. Copies of receipts or other approved documentation must be submitted along with the application form.
AVMA has several resources on disaster preparation, including:
The 31st Annual Hawaii Pet Expo was a huge hit this weekend!!! Thank you to Ohana Veterinary Hospital, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, all sponsors, vendors, volunteers, community members, families, and friends for all your generous help and support. It was incredible to meet and see everyone after three years away from the expo. Your participation meant the world to us; we couldn’t have done it without you all there. Mahalo again for your efforts. We’re looking forward to next year’s Hawaii Pet Expo!
We all know that dog sniffers are powerful and sensitive. But did you know that our beloved canines are fast becoming one of the key partners in conservation in Hawai‘i? Conservation Dogs of Hawai‘i is a nonprofit, Honolulu-based team of dedicated animal behaviorists that collaborates with researchers, biologists, and natural resource managers to train willing dogs in services such as detection of invasive plants and animals, agricultural pests, carcasses (for avian botulism prevention), cryptic seabird burrows, and providing support to biosecurity needs. CDH began in 2016 under the leadership of founder Kyoko Johnson. Their projects have helped in the efforts to reduce the spread of the invasive devil weed, a plant that is toxic to livestock, and listed as #23 on the 100 World’s Worst Invasive Species list. They have a growing role in supporting efforts to eradicate coqui frogs on Maui. CDH also offers a free Education Program, workshops on canine scent detection, and has projects reaching further afield in other island ecosystems and communities across the Pacific. The best way to keep tabs on what this exciting group is up to is on their Instagram @conservationdogshawaii.
The HVMA Annual Business Meeting will be held on Saturday November 12 from 12-1pm at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel in the Prince Jonah Room. Even if you are unable to attend the conference, all HVMA members and interested veterinarians are welcome to attend the business meeting. This year elections for board positions will also be held.
Our current slate of board nominees are as follows: President-elect: Heather Kihara Vice-President: Malia Lyons Secretary: Jamie Furutani Treasurer: Caren Tamura-Taira AVMA delegate: Carolyn Naun AVMA alternate delegate: Jenee Odani Maui County delegate: Leo Murakami Hawaii County delegate: Jacob Head Executive Vice-President: Jill Yoshicedo
Other nominations may also be made at the Annual Business Meeting. If you are interested in serving on the board or on any of our committees, please speak to any current board member. We would love to have your participation!
Jerrisa was born and raised on the island of Oahu. She graduated from Moanalua High school and received her Bachelors of Science in Animal Science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Jerrisa then attended Washington State University and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in May 2021. Shortly after, in December 2021, Jerrisa completed her Masters of Public Health with a Veterinary Public Health focus at University of Missouri – Columbia. Jerrisa is currently working in small animal general practice at Kama’aina Pet Hospital & Vetco Total Care.
As the New Graduate Delegate, Jerrisa provides resources and information to new graduate veterinarians in Hawaii. She oversees the HVMA Mentorship Program for new graduate veterinarians, who graduated within the past five years, and veterinarians who have many years of experience in the veterinary profession. Jerrisa’s goal as a New Graduate Delegate is to strengthen the relationship among veterinarians in Hawaii while improving the veterinary medical profession.
Dr. Russell Shoji of Kaimuki passed away on June 9, 2022. He was a loving husband and father, former veterinarian, enthusiastic golfer, and avid fisherman. Russell is survived by his wife Laureen Shoji (née Katsuda); daughter Alyson Shoji; stepchildren, Daniel (Christina) Kong, Jenilee (Chris) Green, and Justin (Keiko)Kong; brother Dean (Renee) Shoji and sister Sandy (Paul) Hoshino; nephews Rane (Rie) Shoji and Lon Hoshino. Visitation from 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Borthwick Mortuary, Maunakea Chapel; service 11:00 a.m. No flowers. Casual attire.
Congratulations to Dr. Craig Nishimoto who was recognized with the WSU Alumni Achievement Award! Dr. Nishimoto owns Paradise Animal Clinic on Kauai, and also participates in projects helping animals in American Samoa and children in Cambodia. Read more here.
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