A new fear about Swine Flu

hand washing is as effective a way to keep it from spreading to the pet as it is to a person

actually, it developed in the pig population - just as other flues are first spotted in bird or swine populations in parts of Asia. It obviously mutated probably in Mexico - not common, but happens... Viruses are there, all the time in certain populations of animals, but then it mutates, jumps into the human population and is more swiftly spread these days - because of swift transportation. The flu in 1917-18 killed many because of the effects of, among other things - WWI.

[b]Argh...boy. (Smacks self hard on forehead) (Ow....) "Brain? What brain?? We don' neeeeed no stinkin' brain!" (Combo movie/TV show catch-phrase alert...) Of course the frikkin' virus can transfer from species to species; I guess the PC term H1N1 made me forget...there's a reason it was originally called "Swine Flu!" Duh-huh...she needs sleep, she does! Hokay I go bed now bye. Maggiepie "IMPEACH THE IMPOSTER!"[/b]

ooops read again it says ISN'T a fun illness to receive...

Sorry Maggie I just caught on to what you said after I posted the Ooops. Sometimes I miss the hidden implies. I don't think there is any "fun" illnesses.

I did post it to give people a head's up on this. Kowgirl - you take the humor you can find where you can find it - I got a lot of mileage from my surgery last year

Oh, I wash my hands, but I also go to a university and I am exposed to germs on a daily basis.

I'm not suggesting you get the H1N1 vaccine for your cat, just that you practice sensible hand washing and the like if you or a family member gets sick.

I wish I could send you all the emails and videos I have been exposed to on the h1n1 virus. Please don't let them scare you into getting the vaccine for yourself or your pets. Just keep your immune system strong, take vitamins and herbal remedies, gargle with salt water or listerine everyday, keep your nostrils clean by flushing with warm salt water, drink lots of warm fluids. The vaccine is actually killing or disabling some people. There is mercury and other dangerous chemicals going into your system. Please do your research outside of the regular media outlets and look at what is happening to people across the globe. It is not good. Your pets will be fine, just make sure you take care of yourself.

lmao @ Maggie Sounds like you have some fun dogs around there.

the cooking the pigs ears would kill the virus - besides, the article said pigs, 2 ferrets and a cat - no dogs

Now that's just weird, 'cause as we both know, [b]dogs will eat a n y t h i n g--including what comes in cat litter boxes! And I'm sure you recall that neighbor's dog that ate a ladder & part of our mutual porch door, & the one that ate our back yard tree! Maggiepie "IMPEACH THE IMPOSTER!"[/b]

hmmmmmmmmmm......now you got me thinking, Elic. Around that time, I vividly recall getting really sick and having a high fever.. 107 to be exact. Spent 2 wks. in the hospital and a month total out of school. I remember feeling like crappy crap during it all. I'm going to have to ask my mom about it next time I talk to her. I know the last time I recall have a flu shot, I spent several days in the hospital cause of it.

I was 23 at the time, so you know I remember it well. Maggiepie and I were living at the time in Denton Tx, only time I lived outside of Austin in memory (pre-memory I lived in NJ.) Chances are good that you did - since, at least here, they were pushing EVERYONE to get it because it was so closely related to the flu that killed so many in 1917 & 1918

You said: "lmao @ Maggie Sounds like you have some fun dogs around there." Those are stories that go back to the early/mid-1980's

I think Minnie would have to be in close contact with someone with the flu before she'd get it, so I think she's pretty safe since the only people she has CLOSE contact with are the 2 of us.

People our age aren't catching it, the med community thinks its because of those flu shots we got back in Denton

[b]Well, true, I don't get out much, but you do. And the nature of such illnesses is that you're contagious before you realize you're sick. I'm just sayin'... Maggiepie "IMPEACH THE IMPOSTER!"[/b]

I think if you are in close contact with your pets - like I am - you might give them something, but if you practice normal handwashing and stuff, you shouldn't be giving it to your pets

I haven't heard of any shots for dogs yet - heck, we hardly have enough H1N1 vaccine for the humans (not that I'm going to get it.)

Sorry to hear you are sick. If your pet has it, it will show the same symptoms, so a vomiting dog or cat who isn't congested probably doesn't have it. Just be sure to keep tissues away from the dogs if they eat them and wash your hands frequently.

It's funny you should mention tissues because my dogs LOVE to get ahold of them and rip them to shreds. But, because they love that so much, I've learned to keep them far out of their reach. They were vomiting but are now just fine, back to eating 'Mommy's home-made peanut butter treats'. They LOVE them. I know that, if they refuse to eat them, I should head to the vet's right away but they're eagerly accepting them when I offer them. So, all is well. My chest feels a bit lighter today, thank goodness! I'm just glad that we don't have to do any talking here because I'd be pretty silent. I've developed laryngitis and sound so funny!

I'm not around too many people - and most of them are either elderly or work where my mom lives I am mostly either at my home, my mom's place or my clients - I don't like crowds, and the worst places for me are stores. I haven't had the H1N1 shot, and I'm not going to get it, I have, however, had my flu shot

I kindda doubt my cats will catch it since, so far, we've managed to avoid it!

So far, the animals have caught it from the people, not the other way around, so I don't think you need to worry about catching it from your pets I have a lot of pets, but since they don't go out, the ONLY way they will get it is if I, or one of my roommates, get it.

Living here in Texas, when it first showed up it was in Mexico, we never thought it was a hoax Its been here since spring, even killed a child up in Williamson County this week.