Dogs cannot catch the common cold virus that infects humans, so they do not get human colds. However, dogs can suffer from their own versions of colds caused by dog-specific viruses and bacteria, which produce similar symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, lethargy, and fever. It is very unlikely for a dog to contract a cold or flu from a human. While some rare human diseases can pass to dogs, common colds are not among them.
Key Points on Dogs and Human Colds:
- Dogs cannot catch human cold viruses because these viruses are species-specific. They only affect humans, not dogs.
- Dogs can get respiratory infections caused by canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza virus, Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough), and other pathogens.
- Symptoms in dogs with respiratory infections resemble colds but are caused by different viruses than in humans.
- Dogs can transmit some diseases to humans, but not the common cold.
- Cats are more susceptible to catching human colds compared to dogs.
- Preventive care such as vaccinations and limiting exposure to infected dogs or places like kennel facilities helps reduce dog respiratory illness risk.
- If a dog shows cold-like symptoms lasting more than a few days or worsening, veterinary consultation is advisable.
In summary, dogs do get "colds," but these are different from human colds and are not transmittable from humans to dogs.
