As the number of Coronavirus cases grows, so does our knowledge about the virus. Since the spread of COVID 19 first began, pet parents everywhere have been asking “Do our pets carry Coronavirus?” This uncertainty coupled with the widespread nature of the virus and the increasingly strict guidelines being placed upon us, has left the pet community questioning if it is okay to even have contact with your pet.
The good, bad and ugly answer to the question is this:
The Good: infectious disease experts and multiple international and domestic human and animal health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The World Health Organization (WHO), and The American Veterinary Association (AVMA) agree, there is no evidence to indicate pets can get ill or spread COVID 19 to other animals, including humans. At last report, Idexx laboratories, a US based multinational corporation and global leader in veterinary testing, has conducted 4000 tests on dogs, cats and horses from US and Hong. None have tested positive for COVID 19.
The Bad: To date there have been 4 confirmed cases of COVID 19 in pets across the world; 2 dogs in Hong Kong and 2 cats, one in Belgium, the other in Hong Kong. In all cases, the pets were in the care of, and had close contact with, a person who was confirmed to have COVID 19.
The first pet to test positive was a 17-year-old Pomeranian with advanced cardiac disease in Hong Kong. The dog showed no apparent signs of illness. The dog was quarantined and subsequent tests were conducted throughout the course of the quarantine. Samples collected from the Pomeranian returned a weak positive, suggesting he may have been infected rather than just contaminated with the virus. The housemates, a dog and cat tested negative for the virus. Sadly, the Pomeranian passed away suddenly just 2 days after being released from quarantine. The sudden death has been attributed to the dogs advanced cardiac disease. The owner declined a necropsy.
The second pet to test positive was a 2-year-old German Shepherd in Hong Kong. The dog and his housemate (a 4-year-old dog who tested negative) were quarantined but neither showed no signs of illness or disease.
In late March, a cat from Belgium tested positive for SARS-CoV-19. The cat began to vomit, have diarrhea and respiratory distress just one week after the owner developed signs of the virus. The cat was not examined by a veterinarian. It recovered 9 days after the onset of the initial symptoms. Despite a significant virus level being detected in the cat’s samples and its clinical signs being suggestive of the virus, a clear determination as to whether the cat was indeed suffering from COVID 19 can not be determined. Unfortunately, information regarding the consideration and evaluation of other gastrointestinal and respiratory illness is unavailable. It is also unknown as to how the samples were collected (directly from the cat or off a contaminated surface such as the floor). Due to the combination of unknowns, a clear link to coronavirus cannot be established.
On April 1st it was reported that a cat in Hong Kong had tested positive. The cat was quarantined but has shown no signs of illness,
The Ugly: The strain of coronavirus responsible for COVID 19 is most related to the virus responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). This connection lead to virologists at the International Committee on Taxonomy and Viruses (ICTV – the entity responsible for naming viruses) to the virus’s official name, SARS-CoV-2. To avoid any unintended consequences in terms of unnecessary fear from certain populations, especially Asia who was hit hardest by the SARS outbreak in 2003, The World Health Organization (WHO – the entity responsible for naming disease), decided to refer to the virus as COVID-19 when communicating to the public.
The first infections of SARS- CoV-2 were linked to a live seafood and animal market located in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Reports indicate SARS-CoV-2 appears to have its origins in bats but there is no documentation of a coronavirus virus being transmitted from bat to human without viral passage through an intermediate animal host. Although the precise mechanism of evolution is unknown, at least two theories have been proposed. The first has the virus evolving to its current state through a jump of natural section from a non-human host to human. The second suggests a viral jump from an animal host to humans, then evolving within the human to its current pathogenic state. Both theories are hypothetical and neither has been confirmed.
While further studies are need to determine the effect COVID 19 has on other animals, experts around the world continue to agree that there is no evidence supporting any claim that pets can become ill or spread COVID 19 to other animals, including humans. However, it may be possible for humans to transmit the virus to our pets. Therefore, until we learn more about this virus, if you are feeling ill, protect your pet.
- Have another member of your household, a caregiver or qualified pet care professional care for your pet until you have been cleared by a medical professional
- Limit contact with pet. Avoid petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, sharing food, drinking vessels or bedding
- If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.
If you are confirmed to be ill with COVID 19 and feel your pet is sick, do not take your pet to the vet yourself. Call your veterinarian and let know them know you have COVID 19. Your veterinarian can evaluate your pet using alternative examination methods and determine the next steps for your pet’s treatment and care.