Pets and the Corona Virus

There does not appear to be evidence that dogs act as a vector for Corona Virus in the human population.  However, there are still many questions which need to be explored in relation to this disease. Below is the information I have been able to research up to the present (March 6) and recommendations for caring for your family and pets during this potentially very serious health hazard.

When it comes to coronavirus and pets, there is no evidence that companion animals can spread COVID-19. That remains true, but news out of Hong Kong suggests the converse may not be true: People, it turns out, apparently can transmit the virus that causes COVID-19 to their dogs.

The fact that the infected dog doesn't appear ill from the virus doesn't mean dogs aren't susceptible, according to Dr. J. Scott Weese, an expert in infectious diseases and a professor at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College. "People can get infected without getting sick, so it's too early to say one way or the other what this result means in the broader canine picture."

Experience with the virus so far suggests that dogs "are not important epidemiologically in the spread of COVID-19," according to Dr. Melissa Kennedy, a virologist and associate professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

That's because transmissions to date primarily have been traced to contact between humans rather than with pets. "Plus, if dogs were an important vector, I would have expected this to have occurred in [mainland] China, which has given no indication that this is the case, i.e., I would have expected multiple cases by now," Kennedy said by email.

A second dog being quarantined in a separate room of the same facility in Hong Kong tested negative for the virus, according to the government statement.

Recommendations

The case of the Hong Kong dog infected with novel coronavirus has not changed experts' advice for preventing illness and transmission to others, including pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends:

• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and before and after caring for animals, including pets.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue that covers your nose and mouth. Discard the tissue in a trash receptacle.
• Stay at home if you have symptoms of respiratory disease such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying home until at least 24 hours after being free of fever (100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C) without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• If ill, restrict contact with people and animals alike. Avoid petting, snuggling with or being licked by animals, and do not share food with them. If possible, a household member who is not ill should care for any animals in the household. If you must be near animals while sick, wear a mask and wash hands thoroughly before and after interacting with them.

Dr. Lamb is the Veterinarian at the Manchester Animal Hospital.