Can you pass the flu from person to person through a dog?

Answer 1

Not usually, but a few dogs who were living inside the home very closely with a sick human with Swine Flu (i.e., in the bed with them, etc.) did come down with the swine flu. A few cats, some ferrets, fowl and other birds and one cheetah were also known to have been infected by the H1N1/09 influenza virus.

Answer 2

It is not impossible but improbable. If the dog had a person with the flu cough or sneeze on them, the virus would be contained in a small respiratory droplet (usually many droplets) on their coat. If you then touch the places the droplets landed on the dog you could pick up virus particles and then if you touch your own nose, mouth, or eyes, (or someone else's) before you wash your hands well, you could introduce the virus to your system. The question would then be ~ how long after the dog was exposed to the sneeze would the virus be able to infect you? That is probably only for a couple of hours at most. If you know this has happened, you can wipe them down with a moist (not wet) towel dosed with a 1/4 cup or so of Listerine or other alcohol-based mouthwash (makes them smell good too). Avoid the eyes or areas around the eyes because the alcohol would be painful if it gets in their eyes.

Some dogs have caught the H1N1/09 Swine Flu from their owners. It could be possible that another household member could get it from the dog then, but the incidence of that would be rare, if it could happen at all. After the dog has been around someone who is ill with the flu, clean your hands after any contact with the dog (which you should do anyway). If you know a person in the house has the flu, then keep the dog and cats, other dogs, and ferrets that may have been exposed to the person who is sick isolated. The chances are very slim, but better safe than sorry. See the related questions below.