Can Dogs Get The Covid-19 Coronavirus?

Are there dogs that have tested positive for coronavirus? Can dogs even get infected with COVID-19? These are the most frequent questions concerning the well-being of household animals.

Taking into account the recent news about the tiger Nadia from the Bronx Zoo, who tested positive for coronavirus, as well as her lion friends; pet owners all around the world are concerned about the well-being of their pets and the possibility of animal-to-human coronavirus transmission.

Are Dogs More Resistant Then Cats?

Even though both dogs and cats have been known to contract coronaviruses in the past (respiratory coronavirus), the new COVID-19 virus does not present a significant threat to dogs. However, like the big cats from the Bronx Zoo in New York, there were also cases of dogs being tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

In Hong Kong, two dogs were tested positive together with their owners but did not display any significant physical symptoms, unlike their owners. Both cats and dogs can be infected with the virus, but there is still no evidence that describes them as a threat to humans. Quite the opposite, due to the mentioned cases, it seems more likely that humans present a threat to their pet dogs more than they do to their owners.

Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that the source of the virus is indeed an animal source (all evidence points to bats), the spreading is predominantly among humans. Another interesting information is that dogs seem to be more resilient to the virus than cats. Cat lovers might disagree, but according to a study at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China, cats are more likely to get infected.

It should be noted that all the research was done in a laboratory setting with high doses of the COVID-19, something that might not be a realistic representation of real-life situations. Further research is needed, but it has been stated much time that there is no big risk of coronavirus infection for both cat and dog owners.

Should You Protect Your Pets?

You should protect your pets regardless of the virus. However, because the COVID-19 virus proved to induce much panic among pet owners, it is worth noting that there is no justification of being scared that your dog can infect you with the coronavirus. Sure, the virus particles may appear on the furs of animals in small amounts (even though the risk is very low), so you might need to pay a little bit more attention to their hygiene.

Otherwise, the general health guidelines and hygiene like washing your hands and disinfection will suffice. If you are suspicious about having the virus yourself or are infected, it is suggested that you refrain from physical contact with your pet because there is more risk that you can infect them than they can infect you. If it is possible, ask for help from a family member or a friend to take care of your dog until you get better.

Source from www.worldatlas.com by Antonia Čirjak