Can dogs catch colds from humans?

Dogs cannot catch colds from humans, according to petMD. Although dogs can suffer from colds, the germs that cause colds in dogs and colds in humans are not the same, and they are not communicable from dogs to humans or humans to dogs.

Because the symptoms of the common cold are similar to more ominous canine health problems, it is important to allow a vet to evaluate pets when illness strikes. For instance, kennel cough is a contagious dry cough that is transferred between dogs, usually when dogs have been boarded in a kennel. Other illnesses that may cause cold-like symptoms include canine influenza, tuberculosis, adenovirus and parainfluenza virus, according to petMD.