Why Dont Dogs Get Colds

[kendra20]

My hubby and myself have just suffered a terrible cold and it made me wonder why don't dogs get colds or flu, cats I know get cat flu, are dogs immune to human illnesses.

[Sqad]

Not an expert........but dogs DO get upper respiratory viruses (colds)

[penelope2]

Dogs do get 'colds' which are usually viral infections.

[Frank97]

Says here that a dog can't but a cats can
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/embrace-life/pet-health/can-cats-and-dogs-get-colds-and-flu
I must say, I didn't know that!

[kendra20]

I should have asked why don't they "catch" colds off humans, I realise they have their own type of virus. I was worried about our little Jack Russell

[Sqad]

Frank ....that piece that you quote seems to be irrelevant as the OP hasn't asked whether a human can catch a could from a cat or dog.

The OP wants to know if dogs can suffer from colds...the answer is YES confirmed by your link.

[Sqad]

Frank....forget my reply.......OP has changed her mind.

[kendra20]

Sorry squad I didn't ask could we catch a cold off g but could he catch one from us. but thank you for your imput

[Frank97]

My mistake, I thought the op wanted to know if they (dogs/cats) can catch a human cold.

[Frank97]

Crossed posts!

[Sqad]

Frank...it wasn't your mistake........you were correct in your interpretation of the OP..........;-)

[kendra20]

I did Frank exactly thank you for your answer from what I can gather dogs cant catch a cold off a human but they have their own type of virus's which I am glad to say our little Jack Russell has been immunised thank you all

[emmie]

dogs do get colds.

[Sqad]

gawd! emmie....don't you start...;-)

[emmie]

why not..... x

[Sqad]

;-)

[Peter Pedant]

for chrssakes stop squabbling all of you:

A zoonosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted between species from animals other than humans to humans or from humans to other animals (the latter is sometimes called reverse zoonosis or anthroponosis).
In a systematic review of 1,415 pathogens known to infect humans, 61% were zoonotic. The emergence of a pathogen into a new host species is called disease invasion

So is the common cold virus (alll 200-400 forms) transmissible to dogs. Well it is because I did it when I was a child - the parents were furious.
The dog had a blocked nose and there was dog snot everywhere.

but it is uncommon. The fact a virus doesnt seem to infect a dog doesnt mean that it doesnt reproduce in it (latency).


animals have their own diseases - think vet med
and some get to infect humans - think rabies or plague or even ringworm -

It is like saying why dont people get foot and mouth disease ?
well those with a long memory will recollect a farmer managed it in the 1962 epidemic which then featured in an episode of Dr Finlay......

[craft1948]

Good user name Teufel.............

[lankeela]

There are also lots of different strains of viruses especially what we commonly call kennel cough and even if a dog is vaccinated against it there are different strains so it could well catch a different one (although even the kennel cough vaccine doesn't prevent them getting it, it just masks the symptoms and makes it less obvious).