Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!

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Our pups always want to try and take care of us when we’re sick, offering comforting snuggles and hopeful licks, but is it possible they can catch what we have? It's a common worry among pet parents, especially when you're feeling under the weather and your furry shadow is glued to your side. The good news is, for the most part, you can breathe a sigh of relief!

While it might seem like a logical concern, the viruses that typically cause the common cold and human influenza (the flu) are generally species-specific. This means that the pathogens that make us cough, sneeze, and feel achy are usually not capable of infecting our canine companions. Our immune systems and cellular structures are different enough that these viruses can't easily jump the species barrier and set up shop in a dog's body.

Think of it this way: your dog can't get chickenpox from you, and you can't get canine distemper from your dog. The same principle largely applies to human colds and the flu. So, you can enjoy those comforting cuddles without fear of passing on your sniffles to your best friend.

However, it's important to clarify a few things:

“Dog Flu" vs. Human Flu: Yes, there is such a thing as "dog flu," or canine influenza, but it's caused by entirely different strains of the influenza virus (H3N8 and H3N2) than those that affect humans. These dog-specific flu viruses are highly contagious among dogs but are not known to transmit to humans. So, while your dog can get the flu, it won't be your flu.

Other Respiratory Illnesses in Dogs: Dogs can absolutely get their own respiratory illnesses, often lumped under the general term "kennel cough." This can be caused by various viruses (like parainfluenza virus or adenovirus) and bacteria (like Bordetella bronchiseptica). Symptoms can mimic a human cold: coughing (often a harsh, "honking" cough), sneezing, runny nose, and lethargy. If your dog exhibits these signs, they've likely picked up a canine-specific bug, not your cold.

The Rare Exception: Reverse Zoonosis (or Anthroponosis): While uncommon, there have been a handful of documented cases of reverse zoonosis (also called anthroponosis), where a human virus does cross over to an animal. For example, some studies have shown that in very specific and rare circumstances, dogs can test positive for certain human influenza strains. However, these instances are extremely rare, and it's even rarer for the dog to actually become ill or to transmit it back to other humans or dogs. It's certainly not the norm.

The Bottom Line:

When you're feeling under the weather, focus on getting better. Your dog's devoted presence is excellent medicine for your soul, and you don't need to worry about infecting them with your human cold or flu. Keep enjoying those comforting snuggles!

If your dog starts showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, such as coughing, sneezing, or a runny nose, it's always best to consult your veterinarian. They can diagnose the cause and recommend appropriate treatment for your pup's own canine-specific ailment.

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

Meme of the day: theaussiepoms