BOSTON -- You already know your pet gives you lots of love and you probably give your cat or dog plenty of affection as well, but you may want to take care to avoid giving Fido or Socks your flu virus.

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This week, a domestic cat in Iowa became the first reported pet case of the H1N1 flu.

Veterinarians said it is possible for pet owners to pass on the seasonal flu to their animals and are advising pet owners to protect their furry or feathered friends from illness.

Pet owners who are sick should treat pets like they would other members of the family in order to prevent the spread of the flu, said Brian Adams, of the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston.

That means avoiding contact with animals and frequently washing hands before and after contact with pets to wash away germs and bacteria, he added.

Pets can develop common human symptoms of the flu, said Adams. Animals will show signs of lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration, fever and coughing and sneezing when something is wrong.

While there are varying degrees of sickness in animals, veterinarians recommend not leaving anything to chance.

"It's better to err on the side of caution in these cases to make sure things don't develop into something more serious," said Adams.

Pets contracting the flu from their owner is fairly rare, but when they do, it affects them the same way as humans, Adams said. Treatment is similar as well. Vets will usually administer fluids and antibiotics just as they do in human cases, he said.

Although symptoms and treatment are often the same between pets and humans, it's never a good idea to treat an animal at home, said Adams.

"Going to the store and buying Benadryl and then giving it to an animal isn't going to work," said Adams. "They need a vet's treatment."

The beginning of flu season is often a very common time for allergens to be kicked up in and around the home, said Adams. Pets can be very sensitive and will react to the allergens.

Pet owners should monitor coughing or sneezing animals to see if they have additional flu-like symptoms before determining whether an animal needs medical attention, Adams said.

A dog or a cat can't have their temperature taken with a thermometer, so pet owners have to watch for visual and behavior evidence that something's wrong, said Adams. If something looks wrong but owners aren't quite sure they, can ask for an opinion, he said.

"If they have a question, pet owners should at least call the vet," said Adams.

Pet owners should not be concerned with learning different symptoms for different pet species, said Adams.

Dogs, cats and birds will usually develop the same symptoms. Everyone with the flu, human or animal, ends up feeling lousy, he said.

To protect their animal, pet owners should follow these recommended precautions:

Avoid close contact with your pet until you are no longer infectious. That includes preventing animals who sleep in your bed from doing so.

Wash your hands before and after touching your pet.

Do not sneeze on or nearby your pet.

Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Do not kiss or hug your pet.

Wear gloves when changing your cat's litter.

Know who's handling your pet besides you, and try to reduce their contact with others who appear sick.

Keep cats indoors to decrease their chance of coming into contact with other sick humans or animals.

Washing an animal frequently in soap and water will not reduce its chances of getting sick, said Adams. An infection like the flu is respiratory, and will not be stopped by external bathing.

Pet owners who are concerned about the spread of H1N1 in pets shouldn't be overly concerned because it's not typical, said Adams.

The cat in Iowa who contracted H1N1 is the first case in a domesticated animal, he said, and there are only a handful of other instances found in mostly wild species -- including ferrets and turkeys.

Veterinarians also caution that animals can get sick from humans and not the other way around.

"There's no documented evidence that pets infect humans and this goes back to the bird flu," said Adams, in reference to the Avian Flu scare that took place in 2007.

When it comes to pet care during flu season, vets advise looking out for animals like any other member of the family.

"Owners are familiar with their animals; they'll notice if something is unusual," said Adams.