No, your pet can’t catch your cold
Lori Teller, a veterinarian and clinical associate professor at Texas A&M University, tells Insider that the estimated 200 or so viruses that cause the common cold are not contagious to companion animals, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Thats because the viruses that cause the common cold in people are species-specific. In other words, in the case of the cold, they can infect only humans.
How it works is that a virus is like a key that only fits into the right lock, called a receptor. It must bind to that receptor on the outside of a cell to gain entry and unleash an infection. Those locks, those receptors, generally vary from one species to the next, according to Gregory Gray, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and professor at Duke University.
That means certain species may lack the receptor that a particular virus needs to gain entry, which halts infection before it can begin. Such is the case for your cold virus and your pet.
That said, “there are lots of diseases that are potentially transmissible between humans and animals — too many to count,” Teller says. For example, the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009-10 jumped from swine to humans and then to cats. Moreover, diseases that are not from viruses, such as those caused by parasites, fungi, or bacteria, can also spread from animals to humans.
Does My Dog Have the Flu?
While we may warn our children or partners to keep a safe distance when we’re experiencing a cough and fever, we may not extend the same courtesy to our dogs. Surely, they’re fine. Look at them, with those wagging tails, and playful licks. If a dog does contract the flu, either from you or another dog, there are certain signs to look for.
Dogs catch the flu the same way we do. Sharing water, food, kisses, or hugs with anyone that is infected can cause a dog to come down with the flu. If your dog is older or happens to be on any medications that tend to weaken the immune system, they may be more susceptible.
Because symptoms of the flu can appear similar to a plethora of other illnesses, gaining an official and accurate diagnosis is key in treating canine influenza. Once at the veterinarian’s office, a physical examination will occur. Additionally, blood work and urinalysis may be requested.
Can Dogs Get the Flu from Humans?
YES! Based on the preliminary studies, yes, dogs can get the flu from humans. However, it is highly uncommon. Additionally, viruses change and evolve over the years, which may explain why epidemics and pandemics do not occur continuously. This fact complicates the research of virologists, as current results may differ as years go on.
During the height of the H1N1 (swine flu), the state of Oregon found that over 10 domestic cats and one dog had contracted the H1N1 virus. Researchers concluded that at least one of these pets had contracted it directly from their H1N1-infected owner, as they had had zero exposure to any other humans or animals before their owner was admitted and quarantined. In another study, conducted in Finland, researchers found that only four out of 92 household dogs living in a contaminated home had contracted the stomach flu from their owners. In all four of these cases, the household was a family with children and more than one family member was presently ill.
Currently, many veterinary and virologist professionals may conclude that cases of dogs gaining influenza from their owners are rare, but possible.
7 Warning Signs Your Dog May Be Sick | Talkin’ Dogs List Show
Got the sniffles? Its still OK to snuggle with your pet on the couch as you get better. Because unlike friends and family, your pet cannot catch your cold. However, make sure you have the cold and not the flu, because your pet can catch the flu from you.