Can humans get the flu from dogs?

This is something that many people wonder about. Humans can contract the flu from dogs just like they could get it from any other animal. It is not only positive that humans can be exposed to dog influenza but that humans also spread this virus.

Speaking about the flu in general, the effects are severe. They are severe enough to have killed thousands of people in three months after the flu outbreak in 1918. The death toll was so high because there was no cure for it back then, but now there’s a vaccine that has been developed by scientists to prevent the flu from spreading around.

Humans can easily contract the dog flu just by being in contact with dogs. For example, if you were to take your dog out for a walk and someone else passed by with their dog, you would have contact with them and your pet could pass on its germs to other dogs or people nearby. Another way humans can get the dog flu is by touching something that a dog has touched, such as a toy or a piece of food. You could also get it from a pup that you had contact with and then did not wash your hands properly after.

Since you did touch the toy and then did not wash your hands afterward, this could cause the infection to spread to you if someone else comes into contact with that same object. The dog flu can also be passed on through humans coughing on one another, which is why it is very important to make sure you cover your mouth around any dogs and wash your hands after taking care of any animals.

It is not always that people get infected with the dog flu, but when they do, it can be very serious. The symptoms are similar to the symptoms of the human flu. The symptoms include cough, headache, sore muscles, fever, and runny nose.

There are some symptoms that are more specific to dogs than actual humans though. These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and redness around the eye. If you notice that your dog is exhibiting any of these signs, your first step should be to take it to a veterinarian. The vet will likely test the dog for the dog flu and if positive will send it away to a lab for further testing.

If you do end up getting the infection and become ill, it is recommended that you stay home and get plenty of rest. It is also important for you to avoid touching others while you are sick so you aren’t spreading germs to everyone else. You’ll want to make sure you take your medicine and all of the medicine that your doctor told you to take. It is important that you don’t skip any doses of your medication because it could cause the dog flu to spread more quickly and become worse.

Though it can be very frightening if someone got sick, like with human influenza, it is very rare that the dog flu will kill people outright. Treatment for the dog flu usually involves some over-the-counter medications and some antibiotics. The best thing for everyone involved is to stay home and avoid touching anything so no one else gets infected. If you do come into contact with anyone with the dog flu, wash your hands thoroughly and stay home until symptoms go away.

With some good home remedies and plenty of rest, you should be feeling better very quickly. If you still don’t feel better after a few days and your symptoms worsen, contact your doctor and go to the hospital as soon as possible. They will be able to treat you very quickly and make sure you are healthy enough to go home.

Here are other flu-related dog articles that you might be interested in.

Have you ever contracted flu from your furry friend? Share your stories with us by commenting down below!