Helen Webb, a spokesperson for pet supplement brand YuMOVE, said human colds and flu pose a very low risk to your dog. Human colds are caused by an array of different viruses, which are just grouped together because they all cause similar symptoms. "In humans, the most common cause of the common cold are Rhinoviruses which cause runny noses, sneezing and sore throats. Like human colds, dog colds could be caused by several different viruses. Helen said: “Kennel cough is a very contagious respiratory infection, commonly caused by a bacterium called Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus.