Can Swine Flu kill puppies

Yes, some dogs have been infected with the Swine Flu H1N1/09. The cases involved dogs living inside with their owners who were sick and they were either in bed with them or in very close contact. Isolate your pets just as you would your family if you are sick. Keep a distance of a minimum of a 6 foot diameter from people or pets when you are sick. Dogs do have their own strain of flu virus, too, that is currently circulating and only a veterinarian can determine which type of flu they have, so watch your dog carefully for any signs and contact your vet if there are indications of respiratory illness in your dogs or puppies. Symptoms include coughing and sneezing and other symptoms similar to those people get with the flu.

Other animals who have had this type of flu:

As of November 2009, there have been several reported and confirmed cases of pet ferrets having contracted H1N1/09 pandemic swine flu from their owners. There is no evidence that the reverse has occurred (that a person got it from a ferret).

Also, there have been cases domestic house cats having also confirmed H1N1/09. It was also in close contact with the owner while the owner had the pandemic swine flu. It is suggested by the American Veterinary Medical Association that caution be taken with pets when anyone in the household has the flu. (Some cats have recovered fully from the flu, others had more problems).

If any pets show signs of the flu (respiratory cold-like symptoms), check with your veterinarian for advice.

This is what the American Veterinary Medical Association says on their web site (see below for link):

Until recently, we had no reason to believe pets could be infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus because it is very uncommon for flu viruses to jump between species. However, on October 9, 2009, a USDA laboratory confirmed 2009/H1N1 infection in a ferret. The ferret's owner had recently been ill with the flu. Ferrets are more susceptible to infection with influenza viruses, so this was not altogether surprising. At this time, there are no reports of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus being transmitted from a ferret to a person.

On November 4, the Iowa State Veterinarian and the Iowa Department of Public Health announced that a pet cat was confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. The cat's owners were ill and the cat developed respiratory symptoms shortly afterward. The cat has recovered and there is no evidence at this time that the cat passed the virus to any people.

Pets that live indoors, especially cats, tend to have close contact with their owners - after all, that's why we have pets - and that increases their chances of being exposed to diseases. The best advice is to always follow common sense guidelines when dealing with animals (for example, washing your hands). In addition, it's more important than ever that pet owners keep a good eye on their pet's health and consult a veterinarian if their pet is showing any signs of illness. Keeping your pets healthy reduces their risk of becoming ill.

So far, there haven't been any reports of dogs infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus... if [pets] can become infected with the virus ...[they will show] signs of respiratory illness. These signs can include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, runny nose and/or eyes, sneezing, coughing, or changes in breathing (including difficulty breathing).

We know it can infect poultry, but we don't know if it can affect other birds (including pet birds).

Until we know more about the risks of spreading the virus from person to pet, pet to pet, or pet to person, it's a good idea to limit contact between an ill family member and other family members and pets.

The AVMA has also issued this statement specific to pot-bellied pigs:

To date, the 2009 H1N1 virus has not been reported in pot-bellied pigs. However, the possibility of human-to-pig transmission of the virus warrants extra caution by pig owners. After all, pot-bellied pigs are considered swine, and therefore may be susceptible to the virus. For the time being, a cautious approach would include all contact between your pig and anyone who is ill or has recently been exposed to an ill person. Remember that pot-bellied pigs can become ill from a number of causes, and keeping your pig healthy and free of disease helps protect your pig as well as you. If you have a pet pig and it appears ill, consult a veterinarian immediately.