Can My Dog Get Swine Flu?

Although we humans must take precautions like maniacal hand washing to protect ourselves from swine flu, our canine and feline pals are do not appear to be at risk.

That said, Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN cautions: "There is no evidence that dogs and cats can contract swine flu. Still, this is a new strain of swine flu virus, and investigators can’t rule it out until more tests are done."

Dogs (and cats) are definitely susceptible to other flus, such as Canine Influenza, which can be quite serious. The symptoms are: cough, runny nose and fever. If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms call your vet ASAP! Fido has a much greater chance of recover if he's treated promptly and properly.

For now, keeping yourself healthy so you don't contract swine flu is the best way to protect your furry pals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should be your go-to source for current information about swine flu. Check the CDC's site often as doctors and researchers are learning more about the swine flu outbreak every day.