Most of us won't admit it, but a lot of us play "kissy-face" with our pets. Doing that when you're sick could make your pet ill too.
It turns out that the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, can be transmitted from humans to pets after all. The first case in a dog has been confirmed by independent tests in two labs. This follows earlier cases confirmed in pet cats and ferrets.
According to the Associated Press (AP), a 13-year-old mixed breed male dog in suburban New York is the first canine confirmed to be carrying the same strain of swine flu that is infecting humans. The dog is recovering and apparently caught the virus from his owner.
Michael San Filippo, a spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association, told the AP there's no evidence that the flu strain can be transmitted from a pet to a person. "In theory it could happen, but so far it's really looking like a dead end in pets," he said.
Among humans, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says swine flu is waning with widespread infections in 11 states now, down from 48 in late October.
How serious is the risk to family pets? So far at least one cat and one ferret have died. Veterinarians recommend that owners with the flu wash their hands frequently and try to avoid contact with their pets while ill.
That means, of course, playing "kissy-face" with your pet is out of the question for owners until they get well. Your pet will thank you for your restraint.
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Having lost a dog to the dog flu a few years back, I want to emphasize that it's serious. If a dog coughs once -- not a growl or a bark, but an actual cough, you need to take it seriously and watch the dog closely. If the dog coughs another time, make a vet appointment.
Our collie, Paige, got a virus on Tuesday. I took her to the vet on Thursday, and we put her on antibiotics and watched her closely. The vet wanted to hear how she was doing on Friday, and nothing much had changed. Saturday morning, before the vet's office closed, we actually were able to report that she was doing a little bit better.
But Saturday night she started going downhill. We took her to the emergency clinic about 8 p.m., where they said they thought she'd developed pneumonia and was having trouble breathing. By 11 p.m., we had lost her.
This was a devastating loss to us. Our pets are our family members, and Paige was a lovely, funny, prancy collie girl who should have been with us for a few more years at least.
So you're right, Pat: No kissy face if anyone in the house is sick. And if the dog coughs, take notice.
Thanks so much for writing.
December 24, 2009 - 9:30amThis Comment