Whoa, some viruses may pass from one species to another.  Not all are
species specific. Rabies is one of them.  It is speculated that HIV is
another.  Bovine spongioform encephalitis (whatever causes it) passed
from sheep to cows to humans.  Who has studies the 100 or so viruses
that cause colds in humans and knows that they cannot be transferred to
dogs or other animals?

By the way, if something passed from cows to humans, shouldn't we be a
little concerned about feeding so many of our children on milk from
these animals?

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC