Comments on: H1N1 confirmed in cat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:35:02 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Social Mange http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478126 Social Mange Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:56:16 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478126 Oh my gosh, thank you! I've had what I think is H1N1 and I've been coughing and sneezing around my cats, never thinking they could catch it. What an eye opener, I'll be sure to watch for respiratory symptoms. Oh my gosh, thank you! I’ve had what I think is H1N1 and I’ve been coughing and sneezing around my cats, never thinking they could catch it. What an eye opener, I’ll be sure to watch for respiratory symptoms.

]]> By: Lis http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478084 Lis Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:46:57 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478084 Just saw the cat's vet on the news. He said that yes, there were two people in the household who had H1N1, and the cat's symptoms fit, but he was very skeptical when they did the initial test. When the initial test was positive, though, he did send it off for a definitive test for H1N1, and was not surprised when it was in fact positive. Just saw the cat’s vet on the news. He said that yes, there were two people in the household who had H1N1, and the cat’s symptoms fit, but he was very skeptical when they did the initial test. When the initial test was positive, though, he did send it off for a definitive test for H1N1, and was not surprised when it was in fact positive.

]]> By: KateH http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478083 KateH Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:33:47 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478083 I'm guessing that because the report says "a cat tested positive" that an actual test for H1N1 was performed, although I wonder if that's true. I've heard from some parents that actual tests to find out what strain of flu a child might have are NOT being done - they are just told that because the treatment is the same, it's being reported as H1N1. When a parent asked why it was being handled that way ("don't know for sure, but let's call it H1N1"), she was told the test costs too much and takes too long and that almost no tests are being done by hospitals or doctor's offices. I’m guessing that because the report says “a cat tested positive” that an actual test for H1N1 was performed, although I wonder if that’s true. I’ve heard from some parents that actual tests to find out what strain of flu a child might have are NOT being done - they are just told that because the treatment is the same, it’s being reported as H1N1. When a parent asked why it was being handled that way (“don’t know for sure, but let’s call it H1N1”), she was told the test costs too much and takes too long and that almost no tests are being done by hospitals or doctor’s offices.

]]> By: Janeen http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478043 Janeen Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:17:31 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478043 I had a nasty flu a few weeks ago. Completely flattened me for five days. I have no idea if it was H1N1 or not as I didn't go to the doctor. About the time I was turning human again, Audie started coughing, sneezing and having a runny nose. Since he hand't been around any other dogs (and only one other human) during this period, I suspect he caught the bug I had - but we both got over it, so no big deal. Hey - we catch bugs from husbands, wives, children, parents, friends, lovers and strangers - why get freaked out about sharing them with pets? Take reasonable precautions, get vet or md care when you need it and turn the stinking teevee off when they start hyping the current bug as pandemic. I had a nasty flu a few weeks ago. Completely flattened me for five days. I have no idea if it was H1N1 or not as I didn’t go to the doctor.

About the time I was turning human again, Audie started coughing, sneezing and having a runny nose. Since he hand’t been around any other dogs (and only one other human) during this period, I suspect he caught the bug I had - but we both got over it, so no big deal.

Hey - we catch bugs from husbands, wives, children, parents, friends, lovers and strangers - why get freaked out about sharing them with pets?

Take reasonable precautions, get vet or md care when you need it and turn the stinking teevee off when they start hyping the current bug as pandemic.

]]> By: Sandi K http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478036 Sandi K Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:02:32 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478036 I am worried more about my kitty than myself...she has some immune system problems and Im wondering if this virus can be harder for those types of kitties just as it seems to be in humans with immune system problems? Do they anti-virus meds for cats like they do for humans if for some reason she does get sick? I would love to know more how they treated this cat that got sick or was treatment even needed, did it get better on its own without medical help? I am worried more about my kitty than myself…she has some immune system problems and Im wondering if this virus can be harder for those types of kitties just as it seems to be in humans with immune system problems? Do they anti-virus meds for cats like they do for humans if for some reason she does get sick? I would love to know more how they treated this cat that got sick or was treatment even needed, did it get better on its own without medical help?

]]> By: Snoopys Friend http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478023 Snoopys Friend Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:37 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478023 I don't own cats but I think it would be difficult to isolate me from my dogs. They sleep on my bed and would never understand breaking a time treasured routine. Cats can be like that too - try training a cat not to come visit as soon as you get home - it would never work with my dogs so I'm just hoping I stay healthy. I don’t own cats but I think it would be difficult to isolate me from my dogs. They sleep on my bed and would never understand breaking a time treasured routine. Cats can be like that too - try training a cat not to come visit as soon as you get home - it would never work with my dogs so I’m just hoping I stay healthy.

]]> By: Eucritta http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478022 Eucritta Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:29:54 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478022 I'm wondering if attempting to isolate ourselves from our pets would do all that much good, given that folks with the flu are usually infective for a day or so before they become symptomatic. I’m wondering if attempting to isolate ourselves from our pets would do all that much good, given that folks with the flu are usually infective for a day or so before they become symptomatic.

]]> By: CathyA http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478021 CathyA Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:20:29 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478021 So what were the symptoms? Just general URI symptoms? So what were the symptoms? Just general URI symptoms?

]]> By: Susan http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478020 Susan Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:17:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478020 Oh, for the love o' Mike, if I hear of even ONE case of someone tossing their cat over this, my head will explode. The worst part about this for me? If I come down with the damn flu, I'll hesitate about snuggling with my pups while I'm miserable, because by then dogs may be catching it and I don't want to put THEM at risk. Oh, for the love o’ Mike, if I hear of even ONE case of someone tossing their cat over this, my head will explode. The worst part about this for me? If I come down with the damn flu, I’ll hesitate about snuggling with my pups while I’m miserable, because by then dogs may be catching it and I don’t want to put THEM at risk.

]]> By: Eucritta http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/11/04/h1n1-confirmed-in-cat/comment-page-1/#comment-478018 Eucritta Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:23:05 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=9985#comment-478018 It took me awhile to find it - my memory is a bit like a sieve - but there was a WHO news release back a few years on H5N1 in cats: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2006_02_28a/en/print.html Not the same virus, of course, but it likely has some similarities given that H1N1 appears to be a hybrid of avian, human and swine flu. It took me awhile to find it - my memory is a bit like a sieve - but there was a WHO news release back a few years on H5N1 in cats:

http://www.who.int/csr/don/200.....print.html

Not the same virus, of course, but it likely has some similarities given that H1N1 appears to be a hybrid of avian, human and swine flu.

]]>