Can Dogs Get Strep. The reason why dogs get strep throat is that they have an open sore in their throat that is infected with bacteria. However, dogs can acquire a transient infection with this bacterium when they are in contact with a human with strep throat.

On the flip side, it is rare for an animal to pass the streptococcal bacteria to humans. Technically, dogs can contract strep from humans infected with the disease, but it is rare to happen in humans and not cats. Dogs, however, may still acquire an std transient to this bacterium while being closely examined by a person with a strep throat.