Corona Virus & Your Pets

Dr Larry answers our questions about Coronavirus Human Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause a range of symptoms, including a runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever. They may be as mild as the common cold, or severe as pneumonia.

DO CORONAVIRUSES OCCUR IN ANIMALS?

Coronaviruses are common in several species of domestic and wild animals, including cattle, horses, dogs, cats, ferrets, camels, bats, and others.

WHERE DO HUMAN CORONAVIRUSES ORIGINATE?

In the last two major coronavirus outbreaks, transmission occurred through intermediate hosts: the Civet (SARS) and Camels (MERS).

CAN PETS CONTRACT THE COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS?

A very small number of animals have been reported to be infected with the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 after close contact with people who had COVID-19. If you’d like to be extra careful, don’t let other people outside of your household handle your pets at this time – the exception being if your pet needs veterinary care.

WHAT ABOUT CORONA VIRUS IN DOGS?

Canine Coronavirus causes a mild to severe gastroenteritis, usually in puppies. This doesn’t spread to humans.

CRCoV (Canine Respiratory Corona Virus) can cause an acute respiratory infection and is part of the complex of viruses and bacteria associated with canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD), or “kennel cough”. CRCoV infection alone can cause CIRD but also occurs in co-infections with other canine respiratory pathogens such as parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, distemper virus, herpes virus, influenza virus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma spp, and Streptococcus zooepidemicus.

The risk for CRCoV infection is highest when large numbers of dogs are housed together in close confinement, such as boarding/training kennels, shelter facilities, dog shows and breeders. Dogs of all ages and breeds are susceptible to infection, but to stress again, Canine Coronavirus cannot spread to humans.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CANINE CORONA VIRUS?

Most dogs have a mild disease consisting of a cough (often dry hacking), sneezing, and nasal discharge. Some dogs have a subclinical infection with no clinical signs, yet they shed virus that can infect other dogs. A small minority of dogs infected with CRCoV have progressed to pneumonia, particularly if co-infected with other respiratory pathogens. The clinical signs usually resolve after 1-2 weeks, depending on whether there’s co-infection with other bugs. There’s no evidence that CRCoV can infect other animal species or people.

DOGS AND HUMAN CORONAVIRUS?

In late April, a Pug named Winston, belonging to a doctor participating in a COVID-19 study at Duke University, tested positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2 and displayed mild signs of illness for several days. The doctor, her husband and their son also tested positive for coronavirus infection, while the couple’s daughter, their other dog and a pet cat did not.

At present, there’s no evidence that dogs can be a source of COVID-19 infection in humans, or that the virus causes serious disease in dogs. If your dog doesn’t have contact with other dogs or people from other households, and no one in your household has COVID-19, the risk of your dog contracting Covid are negligible.

Two pet dogs in Hong Kong tested positive for COVID-19, and both dogs lived in homes with COVID-19 positive owners. Local health officials characterise the cases of the two dogs in Hong Kong as “likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission”, and neither dog showed any signs of illness from the virus.

CAN OTHER PETS CONTRACT COVID-19?

Two pet cats in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus; both showed very mild respiratory symptoms. Globally, two pet cats, one in Hong Kong and one in Belgium, tested positive for COVID-19. Both of these cats lived in homes with COVID-19 positive owners.

CAN MY PET INFECT ME WITH COVID-19?

Per the CDC, “At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including dogs and cats, can spread COVID-19 or that they might be a source of infection. If you want to be very cautious, don’t let other people outside of your household (who may have the infection) handle your dog at this time – the exception being if your pet needs veterinary attention.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I BECOME ILL?

Prearrange for someone to care for your pet if you become sick or require hospitalisation. Stock at least four weeks of food and medicine for your pet. If you become ill and don’t need to be hospitalised, ask someone else in the household to care for your dog. If this isn’t possible, wash your hands thoroughly before and wear a mask while handling your dog.

WHAT IF MY PET NEEDS VETERINARY CARE?

If your pet needs veterinary care, please call your veterinarian in advance to arrange a consultation to decrease contact with other clients. To protect your pet from respiratory diseases, vaccinate your pet for Bordetella, parainfluenza and canine influenza, which are the most common vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases in pets.

SHOULD MY DOG WEAR A FACE MASK WHEN IN PUBLIC?

Masks made for dogs may not be effective in preventing diseases transmitted by bodily fluid drops, and it’s unlikely that your dog would tolerate a mask.

HOW CAN WE HELP OTHERS?

If you know older/elderly people, or others who cannot go out due to health issues, check in with them to make sure they have necessary food, medications and supplies, including for their pets.