Can Dogs Get Strep Throat from Humans?

When we’re sick, all we want to do is curl up in bed and relax. It’s always a bonus when there’s something warm and fluffy to cuddle, too. That’s where our beloved animal friends come in handy. Many pet parents swear their pet can even detect that they’re not feeling well, follow them around the house, and snooze with them for support.

We love our pets as much as they love us, which means we may wonder from time to time, if our illnesses could affect them.

Can dogs get strep throat from humans?

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes fever and sore throat. It’s also contagious, which may cause us to worry if the four-legged members of our family could contract the illness from us. While, technically, yes, a dog can develop strep from an infected human, it is rare.

Most veterinarians won’t deter you from accepting those warm cuddles from your dog while you’re sick as you are likely not infectious to them.

Pathogens for strep throat are species-particular. This means that strep that affects us (Group A Streptococcus) is different from the strand that affects dogs (Group G Streptococcus). However, there have been a small number of reported cases of human-to-dog and dog-to-human contagion.

Does my dog have strep throat?

You may be surprised to learn that what ails you during a bout with strep throat isn’t too dissimilar from what your pets may experience. Keep this in mind when observing symptoms.

Symptoms

• Swollen, sore throat
• Fever
• Coughing, hacking
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy

Causes

Strep throat pathogens spread through even the most minor means of contact. If you ride an elevator to get to work, you may catch something after someone coughs or sneezes.

For dogs, strep can be contracted from sharing the same feeding or watering stations. Outbreaks in dog shelters or kennels are the perfect example of how bacteria spread quickly and easily if not quarantined.

Diagnosis

The symptoms of strep throat may have overlap with other maladies, especially tonsillitis. To ensure your pet gets the best care, seeing a veterinarian is always recommended. Their expertise will help you properly diagnose any illness your pet may be suffering from.

At the vet’s office, medical history and a physical examination of your pet will take place. The veterinarian may request a urinalysis or test a swab from the inside of your dog’s cheek.

How do I treat my dog's strep throat?

Most cases of strep throat will subside with enough rest and hydration, but more severe cases (illness lasting longer than a week, or recurring) require a veterinarian’s attention.

Treatment

To treat your dog’s strep throat, be sure to practice any combination of these tactics:

• Keep your pet hydrated by being more attentive to their water bowl and encouraging their drinking habits.
• Keep your pet well-rested by discouraging frequent or strenuous activity.
• Administer antibiotics and anti-inflammatories as prescribed by a veterinarian to help with swelling, discomfort, and healing.

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Recovery

Proper care will have your dog back to their happy, tail-wagging selves within a week or two. If symptoms progress despite treatment, call or visit your veterinarian immediately.

How is strep throat similar in dogs and humans?

The commonalities between canine and human strep throat are relatively apparent, including:

• Similar symptoms
• Similar recovery time
• Contagious bacterial disease

How is strep throat different in dogs and humans?

There are two main differences between canine and human strep throat, including:

• Strep throat that affects dogs is a bacterial strand calledStreptococcus canis (Group G), whereas the human pathogen is called Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A).
• Strep throat is rare in dogs and common in humans.

Case study

A small family of four owns two dogs. One late fall, they all begin falling ill. One by one they gain strep throat and despite medication and rest, some family members find they can’t shake the symptoms.

After several visits to the family doctor and pediatrician, the family is given the advice to test their two dogs for strep throat. One dog is shown to be infected.

While the results don’t show the original source of the illness, the family believes treating the pet will heal their bout of strep throat. Within two weeks, the household is back to normal, happy and healthy.

It’s more likely that the family had not fallen ill due to their sick pet, and that an outside source affected the family with the two dogs acting as independent variables.