Can My Dog Get the Flu?

By Ty Magnum

Traditionally, the answer to the question of whether a dog can "catch" a cold flu has been no. While the most common symptoms of cold flu seen in humans can also appear in dogs, the source of sneezing, tearing and coughing was most frequently due to allergies. Allergic reactions to dust, plants, foods and other sources continue to be the primary reason that dogs cough, sneeze or have runny noses.

Recent diagnoses of a new virus categorized as dog cold flu have been made in the United States. Initial symptoms include cough and may progress to a fever and runny nose. Dog flu cases have been traced to exposure with other infected dogs in kennels, parks, veterinarian clinics or other locations where dogs visit in high numbers. Due to the novelty of dog cold flu, most dogs may lack antibodies necessary to resist the illness once exposed and thus acquire it readily. Just as in humans, dog cold flu is more contagious in those animals with suppressed immune systems due to recent illness or other disease states. In these animals, the progression of the disease to pneumonia, secondary infection or longer recovery periods are seen.

Dog cold flu should not be confused with the highly contagious "kennel" cough or bordetella. Unlike the viral cold flu, bordetella is caused by a bacteria and requires the use of antibiotics to resolve the associated persistent cough and fever.

The viral cold flu seen in dogs should be treated much like human cases with plenty of rest, fluids, proper nutrition and symptomatic support. Care should be taken to isolate the dog from other dogs to reduce cross infection to healthy animals as well as protect the sick dog from other diseases while the immune system is fighting the dog cold flu. Your veterinarian should be consulted for illness lasting more than a few days.

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