Environmental and Health Services

Frequently Asked Questions - About West Nile Virus & Pets

Can dogs, cats and other pets get the West Nile Virus?
Yes. But they rarely, if ever, get sick. No cases of West Nile disease have been confirmed in dogs and cats. The virus can infect many species of animals, but few actually get the disease. Most infections have been identified in birds, but West Nile Virus has been shown to infect dogs, cats, horses and domestic rabbits, as well as bats, chipmunks, skunks and squirrels.

Is there a vaccine for dogs, cats or horses?
There is not a vaccine for dogs and cats. But there is an effective vaccination available for horses. For more information about vaccinations for horses visit www.avma.org.