It's a question that has dog owners begging for an answer, can you pass the flu to Fido? We posed the question to Dr. Dawn Karnicki with Delaware Animal Clinic
“As far as any studies have shown to date (you can’t),” said Dr. Karnicki, laughing slightly.
Now that you don't have to worry about that, should you worry about your furry friend getting the flu the same as you worry about yourself or your children? Yes and no. Dr. Karnicki says while the majority of animal clinics vaccinate for the two types of canine influenza you can never tell when an outbreak is going to happen.
“The human influenza tends to be more seasonal,” said Dr. Karnicki. “The dog flu doesn't have a specific season. It can be any time of year.”
Like in San Francisco where one veterinarian said he has seen 50 cases over the past two weeks. While Texas has seen both strains of the illness, according to Dr. Karnicki, Beaumont has never had a massive outbreak, but it got close in May of last year.
“There was some cases in Houston and Louisiana,” said Dr. Karnicki. “Maybe because a lot of vets around here are vaccinating for it, we kind of got missed but we were surrounded by it.”
Dog flu is spread mostly in dog parks, large kennels, and shelters. Monica Lee with the Humane Society of Southeast Texas says that while have seen only a few cases at the shelter, they vaccinate all new animals, and it's important to ask about vaccination history whenever you are thinking about adding a new member to your family.
“One of the best questions to ask is what vaccines my animal coming is with,” says Lee who has been at the shelter for four years. “How long do you give the vaccines? At what age do you start the vaccinations?”
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), you should be on the lookout for many of the same symptoms that you see in human flu, and if you are very concerned you dog has the flu?
“Having your dog evaluated by the veterinarian, can help determine the best treatment course,” said Dr. Karnicki.
So don't worry about transmitting the human flu virus to your dog or vice versa. It won't happen. Now it could be possible to pass along canine flu to your dog via your clothes, so if you think you've been near a dog with the flu, be sure and wash your clothes before cuddling up to furry friend.