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Can humans catch viruses from dogs?
I know there are some diseases we can get, like rabies when bitten. Just wondering if we can catch their colds or vice versa.
Yes I'm thinking this because I caught a cold after my dog got kennel cough.
4 Answers
- Anonymous9 years agoFavorite Answer
Yes, there is a wide variety of diseases and parasites that are zoonotic. As you mentioned, Rabies is one, but you also have things such as leptospirosis, salmonella, E.Coli, Brucella cania, anthrax, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Scabies, Plaque and/or Lyme disease. This is not the end of the list. There have even been some reported cases of humans contracting Bordetella bronchiseptica (Kennel Cough). However, this is very rare.
Source(s): Veterinary Technician - 4Her4LifeLv 79 years ago
Yes, but not many. Rabies is one example of a virus that can make the leap, and most intestinal and external parasites (tapeworm, fleas, ringworm, etc) can be transmitted as well. The "common cold" or anything in the flu spectrum has never been observed to make a human-canine or canine-human jump, but it is theoretically possible. I wouldn't worry about it.
Googling "zoonosis" will give you more information than you ever wanted on the topic.
- 9 years ago
A zoonosis is an animal disease that is transmissible to humans. Humans are usually an accidental host that acquire disease through close contact with an infected animal, who may or may not be symptomatic.
So yes you can get it from most animals, just be careful to always get vet checfks and regulary wash your hands after playing with your dog.