Sick as a dog: Swine flu coming to a pet near you?

Worried about Swine flu? Forget that guy sneezing and wheezing next to you--you may need to be concerned about your own cat or dog.

In a landmark case leaked earlier this month, it was revealed that cats and dogs may be able to catch and transmit the H1N1 virus. This November, a 13-year-old Iowa cat was confirmed to be infected with Swine flu. The story, which was confirmed by several federal officials, is said to be the first confirmed case of the H1N1virus in a mainstream household pet in the United States.

So how did it happen? In this case, experts say the pet's owners were likely to blame. "Two of the three members of the family that own the pet had suffered from influenza-like symptoms before the cat became ill," explained Iowa Department of Public Health Veterinarian, Dr. Ann Garvey.

Nevertheless, experts still maintain that H1N1 is primarily a human issue. "This is very much a disease of humans and its' being transmitted from human to human," said Tom Skinner, spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control.

Still, other influenza strains have been known to cross species....

The bottom line: Experts say individuals should take the same swine flu precautions with pets as they do with people. So do your furry friend a favor this flu season and wash your hands.