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do dogs get sick like humans

Yes, dogs do get sick somewhat like humans, but usually from different germs and often in a species-specific way.

Do Dogs Get Sick Like Humans?

Dogs can have many of the same types of health problems we do—colds, flu- like illnesses, stomach bugs, skin infections, and even some serious diseases—but the exact viruses and bacteria are often different.

Mini Section: “Dog Colds” vs Human Colds

  • Dogs don’t catch the human “common cold” virus (like our typical rhinovirus), so you usually can’t give your dog your cold.
  • They can get dog-specific respiratory infections that look like a cold: sneezing, runny nose, coughing, mild fever, feeling tired.
  • Common dog germs that act like colds include canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza, and Bordetella (kennel cough).

Think of it this way: you and your dog can both have “a cold,” but the bugs causing it typically belong to your species or theirs.

Mini Section: Flu and Newer Viruses

  • Dogs have their own flu viruses (canine influenza), which cause cough, runny nose, fever, and lethargy—very similar to human flu symptoms.
  • Human flu viruses can sometimes infect dogs, but this seems uncommon and dogs often don’t become very sick from them.
  • A small number of dogs have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in people, usually after close contact with a sick owner, but most had no or very mild symptoms.

Mini Section: Can Humans Make Dogs Sick?

Most of the time, your cold or sore throat won’t affect your dog—but a few human illnesses can cross over. Dogs can sometimes get from humans:

  • Certain bacterial infections , like:
    • Salmonella (fever, vomiting, diarrhea)
* Tuberculosis (cough, weight loss, vomiting in dogs)

* MRSA (a hard-to-treat staph infection)
  • Some fungal or skin issues like ringworm (a contagious fungus, not a worm).

This is still considered uncommon , especially in otherwise healthy dogs.

Mini Section: Can Dogs Make Humans Sick?

The flow goes both ways: there are diseases that pets can give people too (called zoonotic diseases).

From dogs, humans can get for example:

  • Stomach and gut infections
    • Salmonellosis (fever, diarrhea, vomiting)
* Campylobacteriosis (bloody diarrhea, cramps)

* Giardiasis (gas, diarrhea, belly pain)
  • Parasites
    • Hookworms and roundworms from contaminated soil or feces, which can cause skin or eye problems and other complications.
  • Other infections
    • Leptospirosis from contact with infected urine (high fever, aches, digestive upset).

Good hygiene—washing hands after picking up poop, avoiding letting dogs lick open cuts or your mouth, keeping up with vet care—greatly lowers these risks.

Mini Section: Shared Symptoms, Different Causes

Even when the germs differ, dogs and humans often show similar symptoms when sick:

  • Fever or feeling “hot”
  • Coughing, sneezing, runny nose
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Tiredness, less interest in food or play

So yes, dogs can “feel under the weather” in ways that look familiar to us, even if the bug causing it has a dog-specific name.

Quick HTML Table: Human vs Dog Illness Patterns

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Illness type</th>
      <th>Humans</th>
      <th>Dogs</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Common cold</td>
      <td>Usually rhinoviruses, spreads easily between people.[web:8]</td>
      <td>No human cold virus; instead dog-specific respiratory infections with similar symptoms.[web:1][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Flu</td>
      <td>Human influenza viruses (like seasonal flu, H1N1).[web:2][web:3]</td>
      <td>Canine influenza viruses, plus rare infection by some human flu strains.[web:1][web:2]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Stomach bugs</td>
      <td>Many viruses and bacteria (norovirus, Salmonella, etc.).[web:3]</td>
      <td>Similar symptoms; can share some bacteria like Salmonella with humans.[web:2][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Skin issues</td>
      <td>Ringworm, MRSA, other infections.[web:2][web:3]</td>
      <td>Can get ringworm and MRSA and sometimes share them with humans.[web:2][web:4]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>COVID-19</td>
      <td>Primarily a human disease, respiratory and systemic symptoms.[web:2]</td>
      <td>Small number infected from humans; usually mild or no symptoms.[web:2]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Mini Section: What To Watch For In Your Dog

If you’re wondering whether your dog is “sick like a human,” look for:

  1. Breathing and nose
    • Persistent coughing
    • Heavy or noisy breathing
    • Thick nasal discharge
  2. Energy and appetite
    • Sudden drop in playfulness
    • Refusing food for more than a day
    • Hiding or seeming unusually clingy
  3. Bathroom habits
    • Diarrhea or constipation
    • Vomiting more than once
    • Straining to pee or poop
  4. Body changes
    • Limping, stiffness
    • Skin sores, hair loss patches
    • Swollen belly or sudden weight loss

Any of these lasting more than a day or two, or appearing suddenly and severely, is a good reason to call a vet.

Mini Section: Practical Tips if You or Your Dog Are Sick

  • If you are sick:
    • Wash your hands before and after touching your dog.
* Avoid kissing your dog on the face or letting them lick your mouth, nose, or eyes.

* Keep extra distance if you have something serious or long-lasting (like TB or a bad flu).
  • If your dog is sick:
    • Separate them from other dogs until a vet says it’s safe; many dog illnesses are highly contagious between dogs.
* Don’t give human medicines (like cold or pain meds); many are dangerous to dogs.

* Call your vet for guidance, especially if symptoms are getting worse.

Trending / “Latest News” Angle

Over the last few years, interest in human–pet disease sharing has grown a lot, especially during COVID-19, as people learned that some human viruses and bacteria can occasionally infect dogs and vice versa. At the same time, experts continue to emphasize that most routine human colds and many everyday infections are still mainly human-only or dog-only, even if the symptoms look remarkably similar.

Bottom line: Dogs do get sick in ways that look a lot like humans—coughs, colds, flu-like symptoms, tummy upsets—but the germ causing it is usually different and often species-specific. If your dog seems off, it’s always safer to check in with a vet than to assume it’s “just a cold.”

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Wondering “do dogs get sick like humans?” Learn how dog colds, flu, and stomach bugs compare to ours, what illnesses can be shared, and when to call the vet.

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