People Aren’t The Only Ones Who Can Catch The Swine Flu

I bet you think that you and the people around you are the only ones who can catch the H1N1 virus, but it’s not true. The fact of pet-contamination came out after an Iowa couple took their pet cat to the veterinary hospital when they discovered the 13-year-old feline was having trouble breathing, was lethargic, and had a loss of appetite. The cat appeared to have gotten the swine flu from its owners after they contracted the fast-moving virus. The cat was treated at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Since then, the couple and their beloved pet have recovered, and there has been a 400% increase in “swine flu symptoms” internet searches. There have also been reports of pet ferrets becoming infected with the virus by ill human family members. So far, there has only been one pet fatality, that of a ferret in Nebraska.

People can do more to protect their pets by taking the same precautions used to minimize the chance of the virus spreading between humans. Family members can start washing their hands before and after handling their pet’s food and water. They can also decrease the amount of close contact they have with their pet(s) during the duration of the illness, and cover their coughs and sneezes. Although, it is common for pets to sleep in the same bed as their human counterparts, this action should cease if the human or pet appear to suffer from the H1N1 virus. Human relatives should make sure all contaminated objects are removed from the vicinity of the pet.

As another safety precaution, especially if there have been any reports of illnesses in your household, all pets should be taken for check-ups at the veterinary hospital. Symptoms of the virus in the pets listed above were respiratory problems or none at all, so it is pertinent to get your pet(s) seen, along with the rest of the family.