No, your pet can't catch your cold but they have their own version of colds

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It's still OK to snuggle with your pet on the couch when you're sick with the common cold because unlike friends and family, your pet cannot catch your cold.

The cold virus is like a key that only fits into the right lock, called a receptor, and pets lack the right receptors which prevent the virus from infecting them.

While pets are safe from the common cold that infects humans, they can have colds of their own. In dogs, for example, there's dog flu and kennel cough.

This article was reviewed by Andrew Bowman, MD, DVM, who is an associate professor with the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at Ohio State.

Got the sniffles? It's still OK to snuggle with your pet on the couch as you get better. Because unlike friends and family, your pet cannot catch your cold.

No, your pet can't catch your cold

Lori Teller, a veterinarian and clinical associate professor at Texas A&M University, tells Insider that the estimated 200 or so viruses that cause the common cold are not contagious to companion animals, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: People are still debating the pink or grey sneaker, 2 years after it went viral. Here's the real color explained.See Also:Yes, you can infect your pet with the flu. Here's what to do about it.How to use a neti pot and whether it's safe, according to doctorsWhat causes a stuffy nose and how to clear it out fast

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