There have been reported cases of swine flu in canines; although it has not been wide spread it has been definitely diagnosed as the H1N1 virus strain. There have also been feline confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, which is also known as swine flu.

There are two types of the swine flu, there is Type A, which is found in humans and many breeds of animals and there is Type B that is specific to humans and has not been diagnosed in any breed of animal. In canines the virus has been labeled H3N8 and in felines it is H5N1.

The H in this influenza stands for hemagglutinin, the letter N for neuraminidase, and the numbers tell the types of proteins on the surface of the virus.

Treatment is imperative for both canines and felines to treat swine flu once diagnosed with this type of influenza to keep it from being fatal to the pet.