Can I Catch a Stomach Virus from My Dog? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ
Sometimes our dogs become sick with a stomach virus, which is a rough time for everyone involved. Have you ever wondered whether you can catch that stomach virus from your pet? You’d think you wouldn’t be able to, considering that you and your dog are different species, but the truth is that we humans are susceptible! The more we learn about pathogens that we are at risk of catching from our dogs, the more we are able to prevent the transmission of illness!
Dogs and Human Norovirus
Back in 2012, a study coming from Finland found that dogs can carry and transmit the human norovirus. What is the norovirus? This virus is the top cause of stomach flu in people and affects roughly 23 million in the U.S. alone each year. While the stomach flu resulting from this virus is generally mild (but still not fun), in rare cases, it can be fatal.
So, your dog can pass on this stomach virus to you. However, it’s still much more common to get this from other people rather than your pet. So, be careful if your dog ever comes down with this virus, but don’t panic about catching it.
What Other Illnesses Can I Get from My Dog?
There are other illnesses you can contract from your dog — those known as zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases (or zoonoses) are diseases that are transmissible between different species, in this particular case, from animals to humans. Some of them can be deadly (rabies, for example, hence the extreme importance of vaccination). So, what else are we at possible risk of catching from dogs? Zoonotic diseases include:
- Rabies
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
- Ringworm
- Cryptosporidium infection
- Giardia
- Campylobacter infection
- Leptospirosis
If you suspect your dog is in pain, we suggest you speak to a vet.
What Can I Do to Prevent Catching Something from My Dog?
You can reduce the risk of getting an illness from your pet with a few simple steps. What do these include?
- If your dog is sick, then take them to the vet. Don’t let an illness linger!
- Wash your hands exceptionally well after touching your dog when they’re sick, or at any time, really.
- Properly dispose of your pup’s feces while on walks (and wash your hands afterward!).
- De-worm your dog, and ensure they are getting flea and tick preventative.
- Wash your pet’s bedding, clothes, and toys on a regular basis as well.
A lot of these are basic everyday hygiene tactics you do already. But sometimes, our pet does something like lick our hand, and then we get busy and forget to wash it before eating an hour later. As long as you’re vigilant and keep things clean, you should be okay.
Conclusion
You can catch stomach viruses (and many other diseases) from your dog, especially if you are immunocompromised. And there are lots you can do to lessen your risk, such as keeping yourself and your pet’s things clean and keeping on top of their health.
Featured Image Credit by Leka Sergeeva, Shutterstock
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Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese - Serafina & Jasper. She also has an array of stray cats, raccoons, and opossums who like to call her front porch home. When she’s not writing about animals, you’ll find her writing poetry, stories, and film reviews (the animals are, by far, her favorite writing topic, though!). In her free time, Misty enjoys chilling with her cats, playing piano, watching indie and foreign films, photographing abandoned places, and catching up on her never-ending TBR list.
