So, I called Ask-A-Nurse and said

[sorefeet]

I need to go pick up a little dog for a friend who has the flu. She really feels like shit and the dog needs attention. It's cooped up in an apartment all day. I know the dog can't get the human flu, but can there be germs on the dog that can transfer to me after the dog climbs all over me and licks me like I'm a steak lollipop. She said YES. I had a flu last year for 11 days, I don't know which one it was, but I don't want to go through that again. She told me that she personally would not go get the dog. Any in put on this. What if I go get the shot first.

[jsr]

1. Don't go there.

[raging moderate]

2. Call somebody who has had a flu shot.

It takes several days for the vaccine to take effect.

[riversedge]

3. It takes about 2 weeks for antibodies to built up after the flu shot...

So even if you got the vaccination today it would be a while before your body built up any resistance. Best bet is to stay away if you have not had the vaccination

I do hope other arrangements can be made and perhaps you can help with the arrangements.

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. I have been very sick the last few days with a terrible chest infections - I also have three dogs

The other day - it looked like I might have to be admitted to the hospital. Fortunately that did not happen. But I would hope that if it did or if at some time in the future I cannot take care of the dogs - There would be someone who would be willing to take care of them.
I work in a hospital and am regularly exposed to lots of highly infectious patients. I face the fact that it is always possible that I might pick up something - and most likely have.

Unfortunately it is not that easy to quickly find someone to help take care of your dogs - Most veterinary clinics will board dogs for a fee. But most of the time - that means they will spend all but a small portion of every day in a cage.

[sorefeet]

5. Another thing is she said

that her fever has broke, so how long is she contagious I wonder. When could I safely go over there??

[sorefeet]

6. She is on Tamoxiflu for 2 days now

I guess she is about 4 days into the bug.

[HappyMe]

7. I heard somewhere that you can

still be contagious for up to a week after the fever is gone.

[frazzled]

8. It would be highly unlikely

Yes, there have been very rare instances of a pet getting infected from a human, though I believe this has been detected only with the swine flu virus (H1N1), and there are really no facts to be had about it. That the pet could then give it to another person would be even rarer.

Last year my father (then aged 96) contracted flu and pneumonia simultaneously (though he had gotten both a flu shot and pneumonia shot several months before). I wanted to travel immediately to be with him in the hospital, but had not had a flu shot. I ran to the drugstore and got one, not because I thought it would protect me, but because I was worried the hospital would not let me in if I said I hadn't had the shot.

Long story short: I spent 7 days in the hospital and then several days more at home with him—8 hours a day in close contact, including feeding him, helping with bathroom tasks, etc. Yes, I was required to wear a mask and gown, but I pulled my mask down when the hospital personnel weren't in the room, because he's hard of hearing and couldn't understand me if he couldn't see my mouth. I did wash my hands with antibiotic soap very frequently. I never contracted the flu. You can't get more involved than that ... so I'm not really fearful of this stuff.

[uppityperson]

9. If you do, wash your hands before touching your face, nose, eyes. More info from a nurse

Never touch your eyes or nose with your hands unless you just washed them well as this is where the viruses like to enter the body. People sneeze, cough, and the virus gets out onto surfaces. You touch something and it is on your hand. You rub your eye and there you go.

Can you give the doggie a bath?

It takes 2 weeks for the influenza shot to work, so getting one now would not help for right now.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/qa.htm
How long is a person with flu virus contagious?
The period when an infected person is contagious depends on the age and health of the person. Studies show that most healthy adults may be able to infect others from 1 day prior to becoming sick and for 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Some young children with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer than a week.


Antivirals may make your friend less contagious, but mostly they shorten the duration of symptoms.