H1N1: frequently asked questions and answers

November 21, 3:26 PMMinneapolis Pet Care ExaminerErin Cunningham

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AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

The 2009 H1N1 flu virus has caused a lot of concern around the country.  Veterinarians are commonly asked questions about this novel flu outbreak due to its previous designation as “swine flu” and due to the fact that it is now affecting our pet population.  Here are some of the more common questions and answers about the virus taken from the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) website.  For more commonly asked questions, along with the most recent updates about how the virus is affecting the pet population, visit the AVMA website.

Q:  What is the swine flu?
A: Swine flu is a respiratory illness caused by a type A influenza virus that regularly causes disease in pigs, but has low mortality rates.  Although the recent outbreak of H1N1 was initially called “swine flu”, it is not the same virus that normally infects pigs and is primarily a human virus.

Q: How did this new virus develop? Where did it come from?
A: Usually influenza is a species specific virus, meaning the virus usually only affects one species.  For example, usually cats don’t catch dog influenza and cats and dogs don’t catch seasonal flu from their owners. However, under the right conditions it is possible for influenza viruses of different species to mix and swap genes resulting in a brand new virus.  It has been shown that swine flu is able to mix with either avian flu or human flu viruses to produce new strains. The 2009 H1N1 flu virus consists of the North American swine influenza viruses, North American avian influenza viruses, human influenza viruses, and swine influenza viruses found in both Asia and Europe.

Q: Can my pet get the 2009 H1N1 flu virus?
A:  Until recently it was thought that pets were safe from this virus as influenza viruses tend to be species specific.  However, on October 9th, a ferret was confirmed to have been infected by the virus. Since then, the virus has been found in other domestic ferrets as well as household cats.  It is important to monitor your pets for signs of illness if anyone in your household is experiencing flu like illness.

Q: What symptoms would my pet have if they developed H1N1?
A: Pets that become infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus will have symptoms of respiratory disease.  You may notice coughing, sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, eye and nasal discharge and difficulty breathing.  It can be hard to differentiate this disease from other illnesses causing respiratory disease, such as canine influenza.

Q: How serious is this disease for pets?
A: The truth is, we really don’t know.  Although no dogs have been shown to have been infected with this virus, ferrets and cats that have been shown to have been infected have been able to recover.  A report released on November 18th stated that the virus may have been responsible for the death of a cat in Oregon.  However, at this time, the diagnosis of H1N1 for that cat is still preliminary and has not been confirmed.

Q: Is there a vaccine for my pets?  Can the human vaccine be used to protect my pet?
A: At this time, there is no licensed vaccine available for pets to protect them from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.  The human vaccine should not be used in pets.  The vaccine that is available for canine influenza (H3N8) will not protect your dog from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

Q: If someone in my household comes down with flu like symptoms, should I board my pets to protect them?
A: That decision is up to you.  It is possible that your pet may already have been exposed by the time your family member is showing signs of illness.  It may be in your pet’s best interest not to stress them out by bringing them to a boarding facility or a new environment. It may be best to keep your pet at home and practice good hygiene around them, while limiting their exposure to ill family members. 

Q: What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
A: An epidemic is a marked increase in a certain disease in a specific area.  A pandemic is basically an epidemic of larger proportions, affecting more people/animals.  Usually the word pandemic is used to describe a world-wide epidemic.

Q: Can I become infected with H1N1 from eating pork or poultry?
A: No! There are no reported cases of anyone becoming infected with this virus from eating pork or poultry.  The 2009 H1N1 virus is not a food-borne disease. 

Q:  I think I might need an anti-viral for the “swine flu”, can I get this from my veterinarian?
A: No.  It is illegal for a veterinarian to prescribe medications for people. It is also illegal and unethical for a veterinarian to write a false prescription for “a pet” so that the pet’s owner can obtain the medication for themselves.

First suspected H1N1 death in a household cat reported in Oregon

H1N1 case confirmed in Iowa cat

Answers to commonly asked veterinary questions

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