So, obviously the biggest news of the week is the swine flu. With all the hubbub, it was only a matter of time before people started asking, "Can my dog get the swine flu?"
Well, first of all, it's important to note that most diseases cannot be transferred between humans and animals. The rare ones that can be transmitted from vertebrates to humans are called zoonotic diseases. The majority of zoonotic diseases are causes by bacteria, like E. coli or parasites, like tapeworms. But there are a few zoonotic diseases caused by viruses, such as rabies. Most zoonotic diseases are a serious problem in developing nations, but are less of a threat in developed nations because of clean water and sanitation.
That being said, we know that swine flu has been confirmed in the United States and as it originated in swine, it clearly has the capability of being zoonotic. But can it be transferred back to dogs and cats?
Well, while influenza is noted for its ability to mutate (the reason you have to get a flu shot every year) there is of yet, no evidence showing that the swine flu has made the transition to infecting dogs. Of course it is a possibility, but at the current time, there's really no reason to worry about the health of your pets. (Unless, of course, you happen to own a pot bellied pig, which would be susceptible.)
In pigs, the swine flu causes fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, nasal discharge and coughing. So, it makes sense that if swine flu were to become transmissible to dogs, similar symptoms would be expected. It's also important to note that in pigs, swine flu does not usually cause death. (In fact the largest concern is about swine flu is economic, because it causes slower weight gain, therefor taking the pigs longer to get to market and costing farmers more.) Swine flu also has varying severity in pigs, based on age, stress level, environment, and immune status. So, if swine flu were to make the jump from humans to dogs, it would make sense that you would need to be particularly watchful of puppies, geriatric dogs and dogs with compromised immune systems due to other illnesses.
But truthfully, I don't think we need to be overly concerned about our dogs catching swine flu. Humans have much more in common with pigs from a biological stand point. Plus, swine flu has been recorded in the United States since 1918 and there is no record of it ever infecting canines, whereas it is possible that the origin of the swine flu is a human virus, making it natural that it made the transition back to its original host. So, keep on washing your hands and covering your mouth when you cough, but don't stress over the health of your dog!
For further information, check out these links:
http://blog.halopets.com/2009/04/29/can-pets-get-swine-flu/
http://www.aspca.org/pressroom/press-releases/042909-2.html
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm
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