October 5, 2026, 11:27 am | Read time: 4 minutes
If you have cold sores, you should avoid close contact with others. But does that also apply to kissing, cuddling, or when a pet licks your face? PETBOOK explains whether dogs and cats can catch it from humans and which pet the virus can actually be dangerous for.
What is Herpes?
When people think of herpes, they often think of cold sores. These are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. However, it is just one of 200 known herpes viruses. Only nine of these are specific to humans, meaning these viruses have adapted to us as a species and cause certain disease symptoms.1
Once infected, the herpes virus remains in the body for life. Typically, every adult carries one or more of the nine herpes viruses. However, not everyone becomes ill or shows symptoms. The viruses can still be transmitted. But do they also cause herpes in dogs and cats?
Can I Infect My Dog and Cat with Herpes?
The short answer is no. Herpes viruses are host-specific, meaning they have specialized in a particular species. Fortunately, we cannot transmit our herpes to dogs or cats–and vice versa. Dogs and cats have their own host-specific herpes viruses, which are harmless to humans.
Transmission of the viruses usually occurs only between individuals of the same species. However, there are exceptions–more on that later.
Symptoms and Treatment of Herpes in Dogs
In dogs, herpes is primarily caused by the canine herpesvirus (CHV). The so-called canine herpesvirus 1 (CHV-1) is the primary pathogen of the kennel cough complex and the most significant cause of fertility disorders in dogs. While adult animals can also become ill, symptoms mainly appear in puppies. These include:
As with many viral infections, there are no specific medications against the canine herpesvirus. Treatment focuses on supporting the affected dog. While the infection is usually milder in adult animals, it can be fatal for puppies. Therefore, a CHV-1 vaccination is recommended for pregnant females to protect their offspring.
Symptoms and Treatment of Herpes in Cats
In cats, the main pathogen is the feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1). It causes the well-known “cat flu”–an infection that is also widespread among non-domesticated felines worldwide. The pathogen causes varying degrees of inflammation in the upper respiratory tract and eyes. Symptoms include:
Again, there is no specific treatment. Therapy usually involves providing the animals with sufficient fluids and food. Recovery often occurs within three weeks. However, since the infection can lead to complications, including eye loss, especially in kittens, vaccination against FHV is strongly recommended for cats.
Horses Can Get Herpes Too! What Owners Need to Know
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These Pets Can Be Infected with Herpes
Even though you don’t have to worry about infecting dogs or cats with herpes, there is one pet that is actually at risk: rabbits. The herpes virus HSV-1, which causes blister-like sores around the lips in humans, can also be transmitted to rabbits–with fatal consequences. While the virus only causes mild symptoms in us, it can trigger severe infections in rabbits.
After infection, such as through close physical contact, the pathogen spreads throughout the small animals’ bodies. It ultimately causes encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, which can lead to various symptoms. These range from movement disorders to paralysis and epilepsy-like seizures. So far, no cases have been reported where rabbits have recovered from the infection. Learn more in the PETBOOK article: Why a Kiss Can Be Fatal for Rabbits.
Conclusion
In fact, many animals don’t even like kissing. Cats, in particular, may not appreciate this behavior. Dogs, on the other hand, usually tolerate or even reciprocate affection with a wet tongue lick. But even if no herpes viruses are transmitted, there are other, sometimes much more dangerous germs in our pets’ saliva. Find out which ones in this article: Is It Dangerous If My Dog Licks My Face? An Expert Weighs In.