Why do pets never contract human diseases or illnesses?

Question

I once had pneumonia and was told it was very contagious and to quarantine myself. However, my dog stayed with me the whole time but never contracted the pneumonia.

Answer 1

A lot of good answers.

I'm just going to explain a bit...

First, pets DO contract human diseases and illnesses but the severity and symptoms are different.

But it's important to understand how bacteria and viruses work. Bacteria and viruses use different methods to infect their hosts. And different pets and humans have different means of dealing with different microbial invaders.

Bacterial and viral invaders use different combinations of chemicals to attack a host body... some of these chemicals are very specific to protein markers in different animals. human cells possess different proteins in it than cat cells for instance.

Lets take viruses for example: A virus invades a cell by producing a protein that allows it to adhere to protein on a cell. Once the virus has 'stuck' to a cell, it can then produce another chemical that allows it to penetrate the cell membrane and implant it's RNA into the host cell and infect it.

Human cells and cat cells have different proteins on the surface so many viruses are species specific which as someone already mentioned, this creates a species barrier.

This is the reason why the dreaded Avian bird flu isn't a human epidemic/pandemic yet.

Additionally, cat and human immune systems are different and are specialized at being able to take care of different types of bacterial and viral threats.

Answer 2

They can catch certain diseases, but not most. My guess is that the virus or bacterial has adapted itself to human biology, so it doesn't work in dogs and cats. Certain things, like rabies will transfer of course.

I also had a cat that died of an infection that came from the mouth herpes type. The vet said someone with a cold sore probably kissed her when she was a kitten, and when she got old her immunity was low enough to let this virus take over.

Answer 3

Maybe dogs can't get pneumonia from you. But lots of animals can get some diseases from humans, and vice versa.

Answer 4

Certain types of infections particularly viral infections have evolved to be host specific, this means that they cannot simply jump from one organism to another.
Certain generalist organisms, like salmonella, and even some types of viruses like the common cold can be transmitted to animals. Ferrets are known to be susceptible to many human ailments.

Answer 5

no we can't fall unwell from our canine! it is why they have hpp-p kennel cough boosters, and rabies photographs. if your canine bit you and it became into rabid, specific, you will get rabbies, yet you will comprehend. we don't get the chilly from our canine, nor do they capture colds from us. we are able to get parasites from them, tape worms, around worms, hook worms, and fleas and ticks. stable grooming and well-being care and protecting up on your canine's shot's consistent with annum and the kennel cough shot each and every 6 month will shop your do wholesome. protecting earnings or frontline on your canine will do away with fleas, and hence preserve the tapeworm issues. you will would desire to consume your canine's feces,, poop with a view to get worms, if your canine even had worms. you may get flea bites out of your canine, and that i assume even a tick ought to circulate slowly off your heat bushy canine onto you. so if your canine is unquestionably taken care of, no you will no longer fall unwell from it. do no longer you like we had annual boosters, so we does not get colds or flus--- it is why canine have the photographs, no drug industry and money to be made on unwell canine, we could no longer have adequate money to attend to them. shame they might't help us with colds! bypass discern!! it relatively is a canine's life! i've got on no account gotten unwell from any of my canine that i've got had over the final 33 yrs. and that they sleep in my mattress.

Answer 6

It is actually called a "species barrier"...
Some bacteria & viruses can infect multiple species
but many cannot...

Answer 7

May be animals have better immunity than humans, that's why.

Answer 8

actually, they can catch bacterial diseases... it's the viral ones they can't catch... must've been a viral infection that you had.

Answer 9

They do...There is feline aids and west nile

Answer 10

i guess its part of their chemical makeup