When the flu hits your household, it’s likely to leave every member of your family feeling sick to their stomach - maybe even your dog. Many pet parents have noticed their dog experiencing vomiting or diarrhea around the same time other family members have gotten sick, and wondered if dogs can catch the winter stomach flu from their humans. As it turns out, this might just be true. Learn how the winter stomach flu can affect dogs and what you should know if your dog gets sick.

What Exactly Is The Winter Stomach Flu?
When there’s a “bug” going around in the winter, it’s usually caused by a norovirus, a type of virus that causes gastroenteritis or vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Like other viruses, norovirus does not respond to antibiotics. In most kids and adults, a stomach bug caused by a norovirus is unpleasant but usually clears up within 2-5 days.

How Can Dogs Catch The Winter Stomach Flu?
Noroviruses that cause winter stomach flus are found in the vomit, feces, and saliva of those who are infected. It’s spread from person to person through close contact, or by contaminated foods, especially meals prepared by someone who is sick.
Research studies have found that dogs can harbor and pass human norovirus in their feces, and often have mild gastric symptoms when one of their family members is sick. Dogs that live in households with small children have been found to be more likely to contract norovirus.
It’s not clear whether it’s possible or common for humans to catch the stomach flu from their dog. Regardless, good hygiene can help minimize the risks of spreading illness to or from pets and other family members.

Prevent the spread of the winter stomach flu by…
Keeping the bathroom door closed to prevent access to toilets and surfaces contaminated with feces or vomit When possible, avoiding close contact with pets while sick Washing hands after using the bathroom, after caring for sick family members, and before preparing food Quickly disposing of bodily fluids and wastes Opening windows to circulate fresh air and to reduce airborne viruses

Vomiting or Diarrhea in Dogs - Is It The Flu?
If your dog is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, particularly if other members of your household are sick, chances are they have contracted a stomach flu - but this might not necessarily be the case.
Dogs can experience gastroenteritis from eating foreign material (e.g. getting into the trash,) after a sudden change in their diet, from an underlying illness, or due to stress. Parasites like giardia can cause gastric upset. Highly contagious, life-threatening viruses that affect canines, like parvovirus and distemper, too, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
In general, it’s not concerning if a healthy adult dog has a bout of gastric upset so long as it is not severe, they are still able to keep fluids down, and it clears up within 48 hours. You may use an over-the-counter medication like VetriScience Fast Balance GI Paste or Naturvet Anti-Diarrhea for symptom relief. Never use human medications for pets unless under the guidance of your veterinarian.

Puppies, senior dogs, and those with chronic health issues or a compromised immune system should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible if they become ill, as even a mild illness can quickly become life-threatening if left untreated.