Can We Infect Dogs and Cats with a Cold?

Do you have a cough, a stuffy nose, and a sore throat? Such symptoms currently trigger various anxieties in us! Is it the flu, Corona, or just a common cold? What do we need to consider now when interacting with our beloved pets?

First things first: If you feel unwell and are experiencing cold symptoms, please stay home, consult your doctor, or take the Online Coronavirus Check to find out if you should get tested.               

Below, we will provide information on how dangerous various human cold illnesses are for our canine and feline friends.

Can Dogs and Cats Catch a Simple Cough or Cold from Humans?

Simple cold illnesses like a runny nose and cough are not transmissible from humans to dogs or cats. The viruses and bacteria involved are contagious only to other humans, but not to our furry companions.

Can Dogs and Cats Catch the Flu from Humans?

The flu is characterized by suddenly appearing cold symptoms, combined with fever and body aches. It is caused by influenza viruses. Currently, the pathogens of normal seasonal flu pose no danger to dogs or cats.

There are different types of influenza viruses (A, B, and C), with Type A being particularly significant, as it affects various animal species in addition to humans and can change very quickly. This virus type also includes the swine influenza virus H1N1, which emerged in 2009 and led to a pandemic at that time. During this pandemic, these viruses were also occasionally detected in dogs and cats, sometimes leading to illnesses. However, dogs and cats have never played a role in the spread of swine flu.

For a long time, dogs were considered immune to Influenza A viruses. However, in recent years, especially in Asia and the USA, there have been flu outbreaks in dogs with various Influenza A viruses. These also lead to cold symptoms in dogs, such as coughing and fever. The viruses are easily transmitted from dog to dog and sometimes also to cats. Transmissions of canine influenza viruses to humans have never been proven so far.

Can Dogs and Cats Catch Corona from Humans?

So far, the new coronavirus has only been detected sporadically in cats and dogs. Transmission from humans to dogs and cats is therefore rare but not impossible. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) announced on December 3, 2020, that the new coronavirus was detected for the first time in a cat in Switzerland.

While symptoms such as coughing and sneezing are occasionally observed in cats, dogs do not seem to get sick with COVID-19.

According to current knowledge, dogs and cats play no role in the spread of coronaviruses.

A Spanish study published in November does show a significantly increased "Corona risk" for dog owners. However, the most likely cause for this is probably not dog ownership itself, but a higher risk of human contact during dog walks.

How Do I Interact with My Pet if I Have Cold Symptoms?

Although transmissions either do not occur or are rare, if you are ill, you should adhere to the general hygiene guidelines when interacting with your beloved animals:

• After contact with your pet, wash or disinfect your hands thoroughly.
• Do not let your pets sleep in your bed.
• Do not allow your pet to lick your face and hands. If this does happen, thoroughly wash the affected areas afterwards.
• Keep your pets' resting places clean and regularly clean their food bowls, preferably in the dishwasher; regularly clean toys, etc.

If a Corona infection has been detected in you, you may keep your pets at home. If possible, however, they should be cared for by healthy individuals. Contact between patients and their pets should be avoided as much as possible or reduced as far as possible during the isolation period. Infected persons should pay particular attention to hygiene when in contact with their pets, avoid close contact as much as possible, wear masks if possible, not cough or sneeze on the animals, and not let the animals lick their face! Adequate care must be ensured at all times. Pets that cannot be adequately cared for must be brought to another suitable care solution (e.g., a friend's private household) or an animal shelter for the duration of the isolation.

Further information on Corona in connection with dogs and cats can be found in our guide article: Coronaviruses in Pets – What You Should Know Now.