Can dogs catch colds?

[kristilew]

I know this is a stupid question! But we've been passing around an awful cold here, first DD, then me and now finally DH is down with it.

So a couple of days ago, cairn terrier #1 starts coughing. I didn't pay too much attention because he is always digging and I figured he just inhaled some dirt or somthing. (Besides, I was still sick.)

So now he's fine, but cairn terrier #2 has started in with the cough.

They both have been on the bordatella vaccine all their lives, so I doubt it's kennel cough, though they did do some time over Christmas. Is there any way they could have picked up a version of our colds? I know TB can pass interspecies, but never have heard of the cold virus doing it.

Any ideas?

 

[lisah0711]

Sorry to hear your family has been sick. I don't know if your dogs caught the same bug as your human family members but they can get respiratory infections. Our dog had kennel cough even though he was vaccinated all his life -- it's like you can still get chicken pox even after you have the vaccine. I would keep an eye on them and call the vet if things don't get better soon. They may just give you an antibiotic that you can pick up if they were just there.

Hope all of you feel better soon!

 

[lillygator]

they can get kennel cough.

 

[teacups]

I dont think too many things can cross between humans and dogs.
Now worms, yes. Colds? I dont think so.

 

[mom2travel]

Don't know about passing germs from human to canine, but how long ago did the dogs get home from the kennel? We got a call from our kennel that our older dog was taken to an emergency clinic because of a stomach flu the day before we were coming home/picking her up. That was Thursday morning. Friday afternoon we picked her up from the clinic and other dog up from the kennel. Younger dog got sick Sunday night I think - thankfully DH heard him moaning and let him out, poor guy. Both are better now but I was surprised how long the germs stuck around.

 

[kateydid]

it's HIGHLY unlikely that your dogs caught your family's cold. i believe the only way that diseases can pass from canines to humans (and i suppose vice versa) is by some sort of parasitic intermediate (ticks, fleas, etc.). however, vaccines are never 100% guaranteed so it's possible they were not fully protected and caught kennel cough.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I did ask our vet just a few months ago - he said yes, dogs do get "colds" of a sort, but they are different from ours and they really can't catch it from their humans. He didn't explain any further, though.

 

[kristilew]

Thanks everyone. I guess it helps to know that it could be kennel cough even with the vaccine. If she's still coughing tomorow, I'll take her to the vet.



on another note: apirateslifeforme - love your Coraline ticker. DD has the graphic novel and says it rocks.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

on another note: apirateslifeforme - love your Coraline ticker. DD has the graphic novel and says it rocks.

Thanks! I Neil Gaiman; I have quite a few of his books. He's also one of my friends on GoodReads.com!

Hope the doggies are feeling better!

 

[MM27]

A few months back, my dog was suddenly very sluggish, wouldn't eat and was coughing a lot. We feared the worst because we had another dog that we lost last year that coughed a lot because of a heart issue.

Took her to the vet and had her tested for kennel cough, lymes disease, they biopsied what turned out to be a fatty tumor and they checked her heart. Everything came back negative so they gave her an antibiotic. That cleared up whatever it was.