By: Xavier E. Martinez, xmartinez@onlyforpetlovers.com

With 2,168 confirmed human cases of Swine Flu in the U.S., many pet owners are becoming concerned that their furry friends may be next. But pet lovers can rest easy, for now, because according to the latest data most household animals are immune to the H1N1 strain of the virus.

“In my state there has been a lot of attention on the swine flu,” said California resident Marcos Lopez. “I do what I can to protect myself, but what about my dogs?”

Lopez is the proud owner of two full-grown St. Bernard’s. He’s had them for almost five years, and says his kids couldn’t live without them.

He can relax for now though because many sources say it is very unlikely his canines could contract the virus. While dogs and cats have their own versions of influenza (H3N8 in dogs and H5N1 in cats), humans are not a similar enough species to transfer over ours.

“Currently there's no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City.

The H1N1 virus, which some experts believe originated in Mexico, has taken the lives of 53 individuals worldwide. It was previously referred to as Swine Flu because testing showed many of its genes very similar to the influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs. The name was later changed to the more scientific H1N1 virus due to the negative publicity in the pork industry. (There is now way of the virus being spread through pork consumption.)

“Owners of pet pigs, as well as farmers, should monitor their animals' health more closely and take steps to limit transmission from humans to pigs and vice versa,” Dr. Murray said.

Currently, there has only been one reported case of pig infection in North America. The incident occurred in a herd of pigs in Alberta Canada, when an infected farmer transferred over the flu after a trip to Mexico. But all the pigs were quarantined and are now recovering.

Owners of pet ferrets should also be aware of possible infection. Ferrets are generally susceptible to the human influenza virus, and in many cases have contracted the common flu from their keepers. However, there is no need to panic because no cases have been reported of any ferrets contracting H1N1.

“It’s good to know my puppies will be okay. All this news attention had my family worried. With the already high cost of vet bills, I wouldn’t know how to pay for any more sicknesses,” Lopez said.

A note of caution:

Flu viruses are constantly mutating to adapt to immunities. This means a different strain of the same virus could transfer to dogs and cats in the near future. In 2004, the Equine Flu (H7N7 and H3N8) spread to a small percentage of dogs, so keep an eye out for early signs of a respiratory infections in your pets. Consult your veterinarian immediately if concerns arise.