h1n1.

Photo: AP The spread of the virulent H1N1 flu strain (a.k.a. swine flu) continues as the virus apparently has made the transition from humans to dogs. The AP is reporting the first case of a canine swine-flu infection coming out of White Plains, N.Y. this week, with the diagnosis confirmed by two separate labs. The unfortunate victim is a 13-year-old mixed-breed dog who currently is recovering in an animal hospital. The incident has taken experts by surprise. Until now there has been no evidence of H1N1 spreading from humans to dogs, but it appears that the dog contracted the virus from its owner, who had been ill with swine flu. The virus previously has been seen to transition from ...

Cat catches swine fly. Sugar Pond/Flickr A cat in Iowa has the unlucky distinction of becoming the first feline to catch the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) reported. The 13-year-old orange cat became lethargic and stopped eating, drinking, and cleaning himself, the New York Times reported. The kitty's vets at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University initially suspected pneumonia, AVMA spokesperson Michael San Filippo told Paw Nation. But after ruling out other common cat diseases -- and discovering that two of the human family members had recently been sick -- the vets decided to test for swine flu. They ...