Can My Dog or Cat Catch the Swine Flu?

All of this crazy "pandemic" stuff has been a little unsettling, especially since cold and flu season hasn't even begun. We are all used to using extra precautions when we hear a cough or sneeze, especially when we don't know that much about the illness OR its vaccination. But what about our pets... Can they catch the flu? If a pig can carry this virus, can my dog or cat catch the Swine flu? Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM weighs in (Courtesy of Dogster Vetblog).

"Swine flu, also known as H1N1 influenza, has been dominating the news recently. The viral strain appears set to cause the first influenza pandemic in a generation. Influenza pandemics are big deals. The pandemic of 1918-1920 caused more people to die from flu than from bullets or bombs during World War One.

Influenza viruses are known for infecting multiple species–as the name would imply, swine flu developed in pigs and then spread to people.

This may lead pet owners to wonder: can cats and dogs catch swine flu?
The answer appears to be no. DVM Newsmagazine reports that there is no evidence cats or dogs can contract, carry, spread, or suffer illness from H1N1 influenza. H1N1 influenza has been isolated from a ferret. Fortunately at this time there is no evidence that ferrets can spread the disease to people.

Although it appears we can rest easy about our cats and dogs catching swine flu, remember that cats are susceptible to an even scarier form of influenza: bird flu (also known as H5N1). Cats contract bird flu by preying upon or being fed raw bird meat. The virus does not appear capable of spreading from cat to cat. That is a good thing, since the fatality rate among cats infected with H5N1 appears to be 100%.

Fortunately, it is easy to protect your cat from H5N1. If you feed your cat commercial or cooked food and keep him indoors, his chances of catching bird flu are nil."

There are strains of colds and flu that dogs can contract, so if your dog is coughing or wheezing, don't hesitate to make an appointment with your vet and weigh out your options on vaccinations and prevention.

Those funny little markings...

I thought this was a great article from the Happytails website & a good one for the summer months, as our dogs spend more time outside in the sun. I often wonder, as I notice little freckles or new markings appear on Roxy:



"What are those freckles/blotches/liver spots on my dog’s tummy?



It’s nice to sit with your dog, and give him a rub on the belly, but when you see blotches and spots on his tummy skin, it can give you a fright. You probably have no idea what they are, and you may not know how long they’ve been there. In many cases, these blotches are quite normal, and may be present from birth. Some dogs develop dark patches on their skin as they get older. They aren’t itchy or scaly, the skin isn’t thickened and they don’t cause the dog any harm at all. There’s no need to worry about these, unless your dog is losing hair in these patches. This usually indicates there’s a problem, such as an infection, that needs attention.

Join the dots! By far the most common cause of darkening of a dog’s skin is irritation and trauma from licking or scratching. If the blotches have appeared suddenly, it may be an allergic reaction. Dogs can react to plants or insect bites, which may cause multiple blotches and welts to develop on the tummy skin. They may then scratch at the welts, which can make their skin worse. You’ll find that Itchin’ For Relief will help stop the itch and soothe the inflammation, and help to return the skin to normal.

Dogs can also develop a bacterial infection on their tummy, either with or without an allergy. The blotches from a bacterial infection tend to be round, and they often have a crust around the edge. They’re very itchy, and again, the scratching may lead to dark patches on the tummy skin. These dogs usually need antibiotics from their vet to get the infection under control and stop the itching.

You do need to treat inflamed skin very gently. Comfy Dog shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal , and herbal extracts which will relieve the itch, and make your dog more comfortable. After the shampoo. slather Fur Butter on his skin and coat. Leave it on for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. This too contains colloidal oatmeal and will help heal dry and itchy skin."


Happy Tails Spa is a WONDERFUL product that produces a fine array of shampoos, skin treatments and a wide variance of spa gifts for your furry friends.