Your Dog and COVID-19

As COVID-19 has swept the nation, bringing many parts of the country into lockdown, rumors and panic have circulated, even around the question whether or not dogs can be infected.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause cold-like illnesses in humans, says the Center for Disease Control. Some strains of the virus, such as canine and feline coronavirus, will only infect animals and not humans.

Reports have surfaced that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo is now infected with COVID-19, and there have been other isolated instances of animals testing positive around the world. With that being said however, experts stress that there is no evidence that pets can contract or spread the disease. To read more about this story click this link.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has noted that in addition to your dog being unable to get sick from COVID-19, there is also no evidence that dogs can transmit the disease or be a carrier. 

It is recommended to maintain healthy habits around your pets, such as washing your hands often, especially after handling dog food, waste, and supplies. Also remember to clean up after your pets often and take them to the veterinarian regularly.

Lastly, for humans that are sick with COVID-19, limit your interactions with your pet. While there have been no confirmed cases of pets becoming sick, until more is known about the virus the CDC recommends restricting contact with animals as you would with other people.  

For more information on COVID-19 and how it impacts your pets, visit this CDC webpage, and this page on the American Veterinary Medical Association website.