[hmitauer]

I have a sinus infection (I think) and I am trying to cure myself with steam and salt water irrigation but I am worried that my son's dog will catch my cold. I admit I hug him and he jumps up and will get my face faster than I can pull away. I want to believe that I don't have to isolate myself from my pets (my son's dog and my cat) when I am sick. They are a real comfort to me when I feel really yucky.
Some advice please.

[vetegnc]

I think it is pretty rare for infections to go between species....I'd worry more about your son catching it than your dog!!
(the saliva kills many things!)

[Turtle]

Agreed, I don't think there's much of anything a dog can catch from a human especially something like a cold or sinus infection...on another note, have you ever tried using a neti pot when you are congested? I was freaked by the idea originally, but I tried it and I think it really helped. For about the first day after I was really congested, but then it totally cleared out!

You can get a neti pot at a pharmacy, and it comes with the salt mixture to put in. So it's a plastic pot (looks sort of like a gravy boat) make the mix, and follow the instructions on positioning, you pour it in one nostrile and it comes out the other for a good sinus flush! I think it sounds totally scarey, but if you do it right, it doesn't go down the back of your throat, so just remember to not breath through your nose

Ok....I know that's totally off the pet subject, but I thought I'd offer up something that may help.

Anywho, I wouldn't worry about your dog getting sick from you.

Feel better

[tet tea]

Nope ... you can't give a dog or a cat a cold.

Hope you're feeling better

[nymom]

My vet has told me you can't transfer sickness between pets and people.
Hope you feel better

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by nymom

My vet has told me you can't transfer sickness between pets and people.
Hope you feel better

With working at the kennel, I have seen colds passed between humans and dogs. I've also seen "pink eye" go horse-human, dog-human, human-dog and my vet says the same thing.

[turtlesoup]

There is some research that says some rhinoviruses can be passed from cats to people and the other way around, but it's disputed. I've never heard of a cold being passed to or from a dog from a person.

[Turtle]

Pink eye I do believe is passed between animal and human, and some skin things like ringworm, but I don't think too much else....but I guess we're all getting carried away, the sinus infection/cold question originally posted...the original poster is probably completely better by now and here we all are pondering

[stellar9]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

With working at the kennel, I have seen colds passed between humans and dogs. I've also seen "pink eye" go horse-human, dog-human, human-dog and my vet says the same thing.

I apparently gave our dog strep throat when I was a kid and the dog kept reinfecting me until she was treated. My mom read in Ann Landers about that and went to the vet and insisted he culture the dog for strep and lo, and behold it was positive

[faderemi]

Is a recently vaccinated dog infectious? My dog has just been vaccinated with anti rabies