ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 75 million people in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID since the start of the pandemic. With vaccines, masks, hand sanitizers, and social distancing … there are a lot of precautions available for humans against COVID, but what about for your four-legged furry family members? Here is what you need to know when it comes to your pets and COVID.
“We know that this virus can jump species,” said Vanessa Hale, PhD, an assistant professor at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
So, can you get COVID-19 from your dog or cat?
“The only case where we’ve seen, noted and recorded animal-to-human transmission is in mink,” explained Hale.
When it comes to dogs and cats, there have been no documented cases of animal to human transmission. However, there have been a few cases of humans transferring COVID to their household dog or cat. Cats were more likely to become infected than dogs.
“Currently, the center for disease control suggests that the animals that we have at our home – that we share our homes with should be treated like other human family members. So, if we are sick, we should isolate away from them as much as possible,” Hale told Ivanhoe.
Avoid kissing, petting, snuggling and sleeping in the same bed as your pet if you become infected with COVID-19. And limit your pet’s contact outside the household. However, don’t put a mask on your pet and don’t wipe or bathe them with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizers or other cleaners. And since the pets that do contract COVID have symptoms that are very mild, such as coughing, sneezing, or diarrhea, experts say it is unlikely there will be a vaccine available for dogs and cats.
The ASPCA recommends pet parents stock up on two weeks of food for their pets and a month worth of medications in case you would have to isolate due to covid-19 infection.
Contributors to this news report include: Milvionne Chery, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
Sources:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/disaster-preparedness
COVID AND PETS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
REPORT #2940
BACKGROUND: With the rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2, one concern has been whether the new coronavirus can spread between people and their pets, according to UK Research and Innovation. There have been isolated reports of infections in domestic cats and dogs, as well as a tiger and a lion at a New York zoo. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread from people to animals during close contact. Pets worldwide, including cats and dogs, have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19, but the risk of pets spreading COVID-19 to people is low.
(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/covid-19/pets.html
https://coronavirusexplained.ukri.org/en/article/cad0008/)
THE STUDY: A team led by veterinarian Dorothee Bienzle, of the University of Guelph in Ontario, investigated potential COVID infection in 198 cats and 54 dogs. All the dogs and 48 of the cats came from a household in which at least one person had COVID, and the rest of the cats came from an animal shelter or neuter clinic. The team found that two out of three cats and two out of five dogs whose owners had COVID had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, indicating they had been infected with the virus at some point, as well. But in the shelter group, less than one in 10 cats had these antibodies. And in the neuter clinic, the figure was less than one in 38. Dogs and cats that came from households in which owners had COVID also often developed symptoms of the disease, Bienzle and her team reported. Between 20 and 30 percent of the animals experienced loss of energy and appetite, coughing, diarrhea, runny nose and respiratory problems. The complications were mostly mild and short-term, but they were severe in three cases.
(Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-with-covid-often-infect-their-pets/)
NEW REGULATIONS: The best way to protect your pet is to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. It’s also vital to disinfect all surfaces that are commonly used. Be sure to stock up on pet supplies and vaccinate your pets for other
diseases. In the event you become ill, designate someone who could help with short- or long-term care of your pet. In addition, stay home and cover your coughs and sneezes. Limit contact with your pets if you or someone you are close to contracts the coronavirus.
(Source: https://www.tvma.org/Portals/0/Images/tvp-20-corona-fact-sheet.pdf)
* For More Information, Contact:
Toni Hare
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