Lynchburg, VA - So much talk about flu season and how to protect your family, well, what about your dog?

The canine flu virus is spreading and unlike swine flu, this one cannot go from dogs to humans, but it is very contagious for dogs.

It's called the H3N8 virus. The Centers for Disease Control says this is a relatively new disease in dogs, and nearly all dogs are susceptible to it.

In fact, they say about 80-percent of dogs will have a mild form of the disease.

With the upcoming holiday season, you should check with your veterinarian before making boarding reservations at kennels. That's because some kennels have now made the vaccine a requirement. The dog flu is spread by direct contact.

Pat Baird owns Wag-and-Bark Pet Training and Kennel and says dogs spread diseases fast when they're near one another.

"It's easily spread through a kennel. Because even if you have a large kennel, they can poke their nose through to the other side and catch it that way," Baird said.

It is important to note- H3N8 virus is rarely fatal. Symptoms can include cough, runny nose and fever; however, a small portion of dogs can develop severe disease.

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