Raining Cats And Dogs

o dogs and cats get colds or flu, as humans do? The answer is yes, but they won't catch if from you and you won't catch it from them.

Your pet may be sneezing, coughing or have a runny nose – a dog or cat will have symptoms that seem just like a human cold. They may even suffer from labored breathing or a fever. It's important to understand that although your pet's symptoms are the same, the virus causing their illness is not.

In other words, your dog or cat doesn't have the same variety of cold or flu as you do. Viruses are specific to their host species and require a dramatic mutation in order to "jump species". It's very unlikely that your pet will catch a cold from you, and you would not be likely to catch anything from them.

Dogs - According to the California Health and Human Services agency, Canine Flu (Influenza) is relatively new. The first case of Canine Flu was confirmed in 2003 in Florida, primarily affecting the Greyhound racing industry. By 2005, cases were being reported in California and many other states.