Q: A friend sent us a news story about the “dog flu,” and now we’re worried. It sounds really awful, and we want to know how to protect our pet. What do you advise? — R.P., via e-mail

A: We checked with Dr. Melissa Kennedy, a clinical virologist at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching College and infectious disease and immunology consultant for the Veterinary Information Network.

“Canine influenza virus (CIV) is a con tagious viral disease spread most commonly among dogs with close contact or shared airspace, much like our influenza,” she said. “Pet dogs at home are at very low risk. Dogs that board or frequently commingle with other dogs could be at risk.”

What kind of risk are we talking about? “CIV is generally a mild disease, with typical symptoms of cough, some lethargy, fever and perhaps nasal discharge,” said Kennedy. “As with the human influenza, there is a risk for secondary bacterial infections, which can be serious. This risk is highest among puppies and elderly dogs, where immunity may not be as good as in healthy adult animals.”

Bottom line from Dr. Kennedy: “For most pet dogs, and probably most cases, it causes mild disease.”

She confirmed that canine influenza is probably one of many causes of “kennel cough,” although she used its more correct medical name, canine respiratory disease complex. “There are several viral and bacterial agents that may play a role in this disease complex, of which canine influenza virus is one,” she said.

We asked her about the new vaccine, just approved in June. It’s a killed virus vaccine and does not actually prevent infection with CIV. Nor does it protect your dog from becoming ill, although it might make his symptoms less severe (or not). And it also doesn’t mean your dog, sick or not, can’t infect other dogs, even after he’s been vaccinated.

She said she does not consider the new canine influenza vaccine a “core” vaccine that should be given to every dog, but rather a tool that might be helpful in shelters, kennels or other environments where dogs are housed in close quarters and high numbers. She also agreed that vaccinated dogs, who can still be infected, could carry the disease home to other dogs.

It can also be a real threat in crowded environments such as shelters or anywhere dogs are kept together in a confined space, and the new vaccine may have a role to play in those kinds of settings. But the average couch-sitting, yardplaying, park-walking pet probably isn’t going to benefit from this vaccine, and probably isn’t at much risk of severe illness from the virus, either — anymore than we humans are from the common cold. — Christie Keith (Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@ gmail.com.)