My pet and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused world-wide
havoc in all the countries where it is now occurring, with millions of people infected and more than 200 000 people dying. For the latest numbers in this tragic illness, please see the banner at the bottom of this page.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some of these viruses will cause flu-like illnesses in people, while other will affect animals like cattle, camels and bats. There are also specific canine and feline coronaviruses which do not affect humans at all. It is still controversial where the virus originated, with some theories saying that it originated from a bat in a Wuhan wet-market, while other theorize that it originated from a laboratory.

With that in mind, it is no wonder that you, as a responsible pet-owner, is worried about your pet. There is so many half-truths that do the rounds on the internet, that people do not know what to believe anymore! There are even people that is abandoning their pets because of the false believe that the pets can infect them with the coronavirus. This is simply not true! Please do not abandon your pet in this trying time. Rather take this time to get nearer to your pet, taking care of your pet and making sure that your pet is cared for as it should be.

According to the CDC (Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention), the risk of the coronavirus spreading to pets is extremely low. They are aware of a few cases where the virus spread from infected people to pets, but not the other way round. states, “There is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19. COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.”

Pets with the Coronavirus

By now everybody has heard about the tiger at a zoo in New York city with respiratory illness which tested positive for the coronavirus. There was however, a zoo employee who tested positive for the virus. It is believed that the tiger, together with six other cats, got the virus from this person. Although researchers are still constantly learning about this virus, it is now believed to be able to spread from humans to animals in some situations.

The CDC states that they are aware of a small number of cases of pets being infected with the virus that cause COVID-19, but that this was mostly after being in contact with people that had the coronavirus. Only a few of these pets show any sign of the illness.

According to this article in the New York Times, Winston, the 2 year old pug of a North Carolina family, tested positive for the coronavirus. The test was conducted by researchers at the Duke University. The dog belongs to a family that was participating in a research study at the university. During the study all the family members and the family pets were tested for the virus. Three of the family members were infected with the virus. The story was first reported by WRAL, North Carolina television station. You can watch a video here.

Winston is a very social dog that is always cuddling, and also sleeps in with the parents in the same bed. It is thought that he got the virus this way. Winston was not sick for very long, only a few days. His symptoms included, sneezing, breathing heavily and he was also a bit sluggish. One morning he did not finish his breakfast.

Winston’s positive test is not taken at face value by everybody. Dr John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, states that he will only believe the test if the virus was actually found to be in the dog’s bloodstream, in other words, an antibody test. As the test was done, Winston could have licked something infected with the virus. It is known that Winston sometimes licks the family plates after a meal.

Winston, a pug who has preliminarily tested positive for the coronavirus, getting swabbed while Sydney McLean, right, holds him. Credit…Heather McLean

Furthermore, there are also two cats in the New York area that tested positive for the virus. Both these cats showed mild respiratory illness symptoms. Both are reported to be doing well. Both had previous contact with people testing positive for the virus.

Can we infect our pets with the Coronavirus?

If one looks at the above, it definitely looks like pets can be infected with people testing positive for the coronavirus. The number of cases is however so few, that the chances of infecting your pet is virtually zero. That is not to say that you should not take the necessary precautions to keep you pet from getting infected. Keep them away form other people and animals that are not part of you household, and avoid close contact with people testing positive for the coronavirus.

Can we get COVID-19 from our pets?

The chances of getting the virus from you pet is virtually nil. There is no documented (or anecdotal) cases of people getting the virus from their pet. Although the survival of the virus on fur has not been studied, it is not thought that you can get it from your pet in that way also. Like the AVMA’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Gail Golab, says, “We’re not overly concerned about people contracting COVID-19 through contact with dogs and cats.”

It is therefor quite safe to keep you pet in your home. Please do not take them to the nearest shelter because you think they are going to give you the coronavirus – it is just not true!

How can I protect my pet from the Coronavirus?

To protect you pet from the coronavirus, you should follow the same distancing techniques that are prescribed for humans. Do not let you pet come into contact with people and animals from other households. When walking you dog, keep him away from other dogs and animals as much as possible. This would also mean avoiding parks and other public places where lots of people converge.

When you test positive for the virus, have somebody else care for your pet if possible. If you must care for them, cover your face when interacting with your pets and wash your hands before and after you handle their food. Avoid contact with your pet, which includes snuggling, petting and being licked.

For more useful information on this topic, please visit the following websites: