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Is Fido under the weather? Swine flu may be to blame

E-mail|Link|Comments () November 6, 2009 12:02 PM

By Michaela Stanelun, Globe Correspondent

Is your cat acting even more lethargic than usual? Is Fido not rushing over to his bowl? If a furry friend has been in contact with people carrying the H1N1 virus, there's a chance the pet has contracted the flu as well.

Brian Adams, spokesman for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said pets can catch the virus from humans, though it has not been proven that pets can infect humans with the virus.

"What we are urging is if you are sick and don't want to infect your pet, you could take the same precautions with humans who have the H1N1 flu," Adams said. He advises owners who are sick to avoid close contact with their pets, wash their hands before petting, avoid sneezing on or near their pets, wear gloves when changing cat litter, and refrain from kissing or hugging their pets.

"Pet owners should be on the lookout during flu season for flu symptoms in their pets that are identical to those experienced by humans, including lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration, fever, coughing and sneezing," Jean Duddy, an MSPCA veterinarian, said in a statement.

Although there is no vaccine to protect what many households consider another member of their family, pets who may be sick with the virus can receive supportive care, including fluids and antibiotics from a veterinarian.

"The pet would most likely be sent home after receiving care, very likely to what a person would receive," Adams said.

Last week, a housecat in Iowa was the first feline diagnosed with the H1N1 strain. The 13-year-old cat reportedly became ill after several people in the home had flu-like symptoms. The cat became lethargic and had breathing problems. The owners took the pet to the veterinarian's office, and the H1N1 virus was found in the cat. The animal fully recovered.

It is not just cats that are susceptible to H1N1. Two confirmed cases of the flu strain were found in household ferrets -- one in Oregon and the other in Nebraska. Both died from the virus.

"We do not want people to be worried if their pet sneezes once, but if there's other symptoms that are consistent, then the pet should be checked," Adams said. "People should always err on the side of caution."