As the coronavirus outbreak continues to grow all around the world but especially in the United States, many pet owners are worried about what happens with their pets. Can pets get the novel coronavirus? Can they catch COVID-19 from their pet? So, it is really important to know what precautions you should take when spending time with your pet. 

Well, we have to admit that it can be really stressful to think about a possible coronavirus disease afflicting your beloved animal, but you should be prepared in any situation. Of course, our cute animals are just as important to us as the other family members, so it is normal to be worried. 

So, read on for more if you still have some concerns about the impact of the novel coronavirus on your pets. Stay positive and safe!

Can your pet get sick from COVID-19?

It is said that cats can actually be infected with COVID-19 and they can also spread the virus to other cats, but there is no evidence that dogs can get this type of virus. That being said, cat owners should not be alarmed yet, because this virus is new and the researchers do not have much information yet, and of course, the effects of the infection are ongoing. Moreover, according to the virologist at the Ohio State University in Wooster, Linda Saif, there is no evidence that cats can secrete enough coronavirus to pass it to humans. 

In addition, three cases of coronavirus-confirmed animals were found, namely one cat in Belgium and two dogs in Hong ​​Kong, but they did not show any symptoms. However, it is true that more tests and research is needed.

According to Dr. Dorrie Black of the San Francisco veterinary clinic Animal Internal Medicine and Specialty Services, “at this time, I feel relatively strongly that pets cannot come down with a disease associated with COVID-19. Coronaviruses do exist in pets: We have common coronaviruses in cats and dogs that cause respiratory as well as intestinal changes. They are not novel to them, so they have adapted to them, and they are not typically lethal at all. They are usually transient processes.”

“As far as we know, pets do not get the disease caused by the virus. People notice when their pets are sick. With the burden of human cases that we have, I think sick pets would start getting reported,” said Dr. Brian H. Bird, associate director of the UC Davis One Health Institute. 

In other words, if you have a pet, you will surely know if it is sick or not, but even if – by absurdity – your beloved furry friend will be infected with COVID-19 (or not), it won’t die of pneumonia or other gastrointestinal diseases. So, do not worry about that. 

Moreover, you should know that the way coronavirus is manifested in animals is still under investigation and animal specialists are trying to find out if there are other affected creatures besides dogs and cats.

Can the novel coronavirus be transmitted from animals to humans?

There is speculation that you can’t contract the novel coronavirus from animals, but the truth is that scientists do not yet have all the necessary information about this virus. “It does not seem like a likely transmission route, but we are early on in an outbreak and we are learning more and more every day,” said Dr. Bird. 

According to the CDC, “At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19 or that they might be a source of infection in the United States.”

So, stay safe and protect your pets as well. Unfortunately, there are some people who are scared of the fake news that circulates on the internet and try to abandon their pets, but please do not do that, because you can’t get COVID-19 from your pet. As long as you can keep social distancing and take care of your personal hygiene you are safe!

If an infected person coughs on your pet you can get COVID-19 from its fur

As the coronavirus crisis continues to accelerate, especially in the United States, people are really worried about everything they touch… and they should be because the virus can live on surfaces for up to four hours or even a few days. So, the best solution is to disinfect everything you touch, especially when you have been in public spaces or when you come back home. 

Unfortunately, studies have shown that the coronavirus can be found on a variety of surfaces, from the support pole in the subway to your pet’s fur… but only if a person infected with COVID-19 contaminated them. 

How does it spread? If a person who is infected with this novel coronavirus coughs or sneezes without covering their mouth and nose they could potentially spray the surfaces with secretions that can infect you as well. So, if someone who is already infected with COVID-19 coughs on your pet you can get the virus too. 

“This is where it gets a little difficult. Technically, yes [ you can get the virus]. If [someone infected with COVID-19] coughed over a dog, viruses in that droplet can survive for somewhere between three-and-a-half to four hours. So for my staff, when we receive a pet, we actually take a cloth that has been sprayed with one of the common antivirals we use, or soap and water, and we do a very gentle wipe-down of the fur, but not the animal’s face,” said Dr. Black.

“The limited studies that are available have put [the new coronavirus] on solid surfaces and shown the virus can remain infectious for a period of hours to a couple of days. As far as I know, no one’s done any controlled experiments on hair,” Dr. Bird. 

In addition, if you observe this, all you have to do is to bathe your little furry pet with its normal shampoo.

Is there a vaccine that can eliminate the risk of getting COVID-19 in cats and dogs?

Unfortunately, at this moment, there are no COVID-19 vaccines available for humans or animals. It seems that a vaccine for humans could be available in 12-18 months, according to The World Health Organization. 

However, researchers in Australia have started animal tests of two potential COVID-19 vaccines, but we will have access to it next year if they prove to be successful. So, we should stay home and protect ourselves until then. Moreover, you should know that the potential vaccines are being tested on ferrets, which contract the coronavirus in the same way people do.

“They are very significant. I mean, this is a world-leading technology and this is the first time actually in the world that we have done these animal model tests to look at two candidate vaccines, both of which the CEPI coalition has provided funding towards,” said Jane Halton, the head of Australia’s Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. 

But, even though they are testing coronavirus vaccines on animals to find out what is good for humans, it does not mean that it could be effective for cats and dogs as well… or at least not for the moment. 

Yet, you should know that our veterinarians are familiar with the symptoms or diseases caused by other coronaviruses because the coronavirus is a group of related viruses that can affect mammals and birds. So, to be more specific, the coronavirus is not a new virus, but COVID-19 is a new strain from the same family of viruses.

For instance, in humans, coronavirus can cause respiratory tract infections that can be mild, or severe (SARS, MERS or COVID-19), but in animals, coronavirus can cause respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases. Thus, it does not mean that COVID-19 can affect animals in the same way, because we have no evidence to prove the actual symptoms in animals. In fact, many dogs are vaccinated for another species of coronavirus – Canine Coronavirus – as puppies, but this vaccine is not effective for COVID-19 (which is the new coronavirus). 

In conclusion, there is no vaccine for COVID-19 for animals or people at this time.

Is it safe to leave my dog with the dog walker?

Well, it is up to you. If you think that your dog walker is healthy and does not cough on your pet’s fur. But if you finally decide to leave your dog outdoors with the dog walker, you should bathe it properly when it comes back home. 

For instance, when you are the one who walks the dog you know that it is important to keep social distancing and follow a strict personal hygiene, namely to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, but you do not know what your dog walker is doing. So, this is why it is important to bathe your dog after you leave it with other people. 

“I think it’s OK as long as everyone is practicing what they preach. I would wipe down the leashes with peroxide, diluted bleach, or a high-alcohol concentration,” Dr. Black said.

Is it fine to spend time with my pet?

Of course yes! Do not ever neglect your beloved furry friend. You can play with them but it is very important to wash your hands properly before and after touching them. 

“Proper hand hygiene is always a wonderful thing in this kind of outbreak. After you play with your pet, whether it’s a horse or a dog or a frog, wash your hands and make sure that you’re not putting any other potential pathogens in your mouth. When walking dogs, keep them on a leash,” said Dr. Bird.

What should I do if I am infected with COVID-19?

If you are sick or can’t get out, you’d better ask another member of your family to go out with your pet and do not kiss, cuddle, or play with it if you are infected with the novel coronavirus. Be responsible even with your animals.

“If you are sick with COVID-19, either suspected or confirmed, you should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. This can help ensure both you and your animals stay healthy,” said CDC.

Can I test my pet for COVID-19?

Definitely yes! And your veterinarians can help you test your pet for the novel coronavirus. According to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine, your veterinarian has the capability to test your pet and you will find out faster if your pet is sick or not. 

All you have to do is to make a request if you want your pet to be tested in which you should specify why you want it to be tested, and that application must be submitted by your veterinarian. After this, the request will be sent to those dealing with animal cases and they will analyze your situation. If they detect a positive result, then these officials must be notified first. 

Unfortunately, the world in on alert because of the novel coronavirus, but we should stay calm and safe. Even though it is thought that COVID-19 originated in animals and humans have contracted it from them or various animal based foods, we do not know it for sure, because there is no scientific evidence to support this hypothesis. In addition, those animals that are believed to have created the virus were exotic, so do not worry about your pets. 

It is speculated that horseshoe bats are the reservoir species and the novel COVID-19 originated from these species, especially since SARS and MERS – which are other types of coronaviruses – came from bats as well and then they passed it to other animals species. But other scientists say that the new coronavirus has a natural origin and it has nothing to do with animals.

“By comparing the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 originated through natural processes,” said Kristian Andersen, PhD, an associate professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research. He concludes that the virus is the product of natural evolution.