What You Should Know About COVID-19 And Your Dog

By Heather Leichner

With the holidays and cooler weather fast approaching, indoor family and social gatherings are bound to increase. This may mean exposing your dogs to people and other dogs that they are not normally around. With that in mind, we should all consider the effects COVID-19 may have on our pets, because while humans can wear masks and socially distance at gatherings, our dogs cannot.

Because the outbreak of COVID-19 originated from an animal back in 2019, it would make sense that our pets would be at risk of contracting and transmitting the virus — but what needs to explored is the degree of risk, as well as what we can do to protect them and prevent the spread. 

There are two main scenarios in which this virus can pose a risk to our pets. The first is a human to dog (or vice versa) spread of the virus, meaning your dog gets it from a human, or passes it on to another human. According to the Center for Disease Control, it is in fact possible for your dog to contract and transmit COVID-19. Just like humans, dogs can contract COVID-19 from respiratory droplets from their owners or other people carrying the virus.

“In order to keep yourself and your dog safe, the CDC recommends keeping a distance of six feet between your dog and other people while on walks, avoiding crowds, and preventing your outdoor dogs and cats from roaming freely.”

However, animals do not play a significant role in the spread of the virus. There is no evidence that the virus can be spread through the skin, fur or hair of pets; therefore, there is no need to excessively bathe your animal to rid them of the virus. In order to keep yourself and your dog safe, the CDC recommends keeping a distance of six feet between your dog and other people while on walks, avoiding crowds, and preventing your outdoor dogs and cats from roaming freely. By adhering to these three guidelines, the chances of your animals contracting the virus and spreading it throughout your home become very low, but more studies are needed to learn the exact role our pets play.

The second scenario would be an animal to animal spread, meaning your dog gets the virus from an animal, or spreads it to another animal. Unfortunately, since COVID-19 is still evolving and researchers are still learning about the effects the virus has, there has not been a lot of research conducted on this topic. What we do know is that research shows ferrets, cats and a species of hamster that were experimentally infected with the virus did spread it to other animals of the same species within a laboratory setting.

Meanwhile, mice, pigs, chickens and ducks do not seem to contract or spread the virus. Additionally, when it comes to dogs, one study suggests that while dogs can get infected with the virus, they may not spread it to other dogs as easily, when compared to cats and ferrets. That being said, the CDC still recommends not taking your dog to high-risk places such as the dog park, until we better understand the virus. 

“In order to protect our pets from this virus, it is recommended that we treat them as we would treat other humans. If you become sick but must care for your pet, wear a mask when you are around them, and wash your hands before and after feeding them or handling their supplies.”

In order to protect our pets from this virus, it is recommended that we treat them as we would treat other humans. If you become sick but must care for your pet, wear a mask when you are around them, and wash your hands before and after feeding them or handling their supplies. If you are worried about your pet’s health, contact your vet first. Do not bring them into the veterinary clinic. You should also do your best to isolate your pet from other animals and humans, but do not put a mask or face covering on your dog as this may injure them.

This being said, there is no reason to panic. According to the Mayo Clinic, among the small number of dogs and cats with confirmed cases, some didn’t show any symptoms at all while others only showed mild symptoms and could be cared for within their own home. There have also been no cases where a dog or cat has died in the U.S. because of COVID-19. Animals are being considered in the efforts to beat the virus. Within some states, the CDC, USDA, state public health and animal health officials are including cats, dogs and other animals in contract-tracing efforts if the animal has been or may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19.

“If you are worried about your pet’s health, contact your vet first. Do not bring them into the veterinary clinic. You should also do your best to isolate your pet from other animals and humans, but do not put a mask or face covering on your dog as this may injure them.”

So, to all the animal lovers concerned about their pet’s safety during this difficult time, do not worry. If you wear your mask, wash your hands, and continue to socially distance yourself and your dog from people outside of the household, then the chances of your dog getting the virus are slim. Unfortunately, for most, this will mean that the upcoming holiday season will not be what we are used to with large family gatherings — but it is the least we can do to protect each other and our furry friends.

Sources:

 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html

 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/can-pets-get-coronavirus/faq-20486391