Posted by Ranger Sally (165.83.4.57) on March 15, 2002 at 13:11:52:
In Reply to: colds and flu posted by neighbor joe on March 15, 2002 at 06:34:58:
: Almost everyone in our class came down with a flu bug a couple of weeks ago. We all caught it from each other. Why don't wolves get the flu or catch colds? Or do they? And are there other diseases that wolves spread to other members of the pack like humans do with colds?
Good question and I hope you're feeling better! Wolves do have diseases that they can pass to each other. You've probably heard of rabies. It is caused by a virus that affects the brain and can be transferred from the wolf's saliva into the wound of its victim (which could be another wolf or some other animal). Another viral diesease affecting the wolf's nervous system is distemper. It occurs most often among young animals and is often fatal. Parvo virus is another disease that affects especially pups and, again, is often fatal. There have also been reported cases of virus-like diseases of the respiratory tract, probably similar to human colds and flus.