Is it possible for cats to get sick from dogs or vice versa? Should I quarantine one from the other if there is an illness in one?

Erin, it depends on the cause of the sickness. Some illnesses are very species specific, like some respiratory infections and many gastrointestinal viruses, and they don’t spread between dogs and cats. However, others can infect more than one species, including you.

Some common illnesses that are readily shared between dogs and cats include intestinal worms and ringworm, which isn’t actually a worm but a fungal skin infection. Less common ones include the intestinal parasite Giardia, and rabies. Bordetella bacteria can spread between dogs and cats but it’s extremely rare for that to happen. Salmonella too infects both species.

I’d suggest you keep your pets apart until your vet has diagnosed the cause of their illness and then ask them if a longer separation is appropriate. | 01.26.16 @ 03:00