If you’re sniffling on the couch with your pup curled beside you, you might wonder: Can my dog catch my cold? And should I be keeping my distance?
Here’s what you need to know.
Can dogs catch colds from humans?
Good news — they can’t.
The viruses that cause the common cold in humans spread easily from person to person, but they don’t infect dogs. So your pup isn’t going to come down with the sniffles just because you are.
That said, dogs can catch certain human illnesses, like specific flu strains and even COVID — but those cases are rare.
And don’t worry — the germs your dog gets from other pups aren’t going to infect you, either.
So what is a dog cold?
The closest dog equivalent to a human cold is kennel cough — a contagious respiratory infection that often begins with inflammation in the upper airways.
Common symptoms of kennel cough
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Coughing
How do you treat kennel cough?
The best treatment is prevention — and that comes in the form of vaccines.
The Bordetella vaccine (often given during annual vet visits) helps protect dogs from kennel cough. Many daycares, boarding facilities, trainers and groomers require it because dogs commonly spread the infection where they mix in close quarters.
If your pup does come down with kennel cough, the infection is typically easy to treat with antibiotics, and most dogs bounce back quickly.
With the right protection, your dog can stay healthy — even if everyone else in the house is going through tissues like crazy.
