Can Dogs and Cats Catch Swine Flu?

By HOW'S YOUR DOG, a Trusty eBay Powerseller

Can pets, such as dogs or cats, contract Swine Flu?

Alerts of a new strain of H1N1 flu (swine flu) virus pandemic have dominated news stories and information about swine flu and how to protect yourself and your family is readily available.

But what about our dogs and cats? Can they catch or spread H1N1 flu to each other or members of their human family? The answer is no, this is not an absolute answer, because one of the challenges of these types of virus is that they can change. Historically there have been no reports of dogs or cats spreading flu to humans, but there is still much to learn about this new strain of swine flu, and there are reported cases that a few cats in Europe and at least one dog in Thailand were infected  by the avain H5N1 flu (bird flu).

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), studies have shown that 30% to 50% of commercial U.S. swine have been infected with swine flu.  And no, you cannot get swine flu from eating pork.  There is no evidence to show that it can be transmitted through food.  Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe.  However, if you are feeding yourself or your dogs or cats pork, always cooking it to an internal temperature of 160°F in order to kill bacteria and viruses.

If your pet is sick

As always, if you suspect that your dog or cat is sick, please contact your veterinarian directly for an examination and to discuss any questions.

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