Pets and Coronavirus: Your Questions Answered

Coronavirus, or more precisely COVID-19, has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Countries are putting stringent measures in place to control the outbreak. India, for instance, has suspended all visas for foreigners looking to travel to the country, and Italy has issued a decree that puts it under strict quarantine . By now, you will probably have a clear idea of what the spread of the coronavirus means for you, your work and your travel plans. But what does it mean for your pets?

The Pet Project is here to answer the most frequently asked questions to the best of our knowledge.

Can dogs and cats catch coronavirus or COVID-19?

While pets can have certain kinds of coronaviruses, such as canine respiratory coronavirus, there is no evidence as yet that they can catch COVID-19, which is the specific kind of coronavirus currently spreading around the world. All evidence points to the virus spreading via human-to-human contact, rather than humans to animals or vice versa. There was a dog in Hong Kong that apparently tested “ weak positive ” for COVID-19 but most experts currently don’t believe that case is symptomatic: after all, pets have escaped the virus even in hotbeds like Italy.

Should I quarantine my dog or cat?

If you have coronavirus or are displaying any of the symptoms, you may want to self-isolate – i.e. distance yourself from people by staying at home for two weeks and reducing any contact. If that’s the case, it’s best to ensure your pet self-isolates with you. Wash your hands regularly, especially before and after touching your pet, and just generally keep a look out for your pet’s health. If you are concerned about how to entertained a trapped dog or cat during quarantine, here is how you can exercise your pet indoors .

Do dogs or cats need masks to protect them from COVID-19?

No. Buying your dog a mask is not useful, and it just means there are less masks for the healthcare workers that genuinely need them.

Any other tips?

Generally, in times like these, it’s best to maintain a high level of hygiene. So that means washing your hands as often as possible, for at least 20 seconds. Don’t know how long 20 seconds is? Here’s a fun site to help you out: Wash Your Lyrics generates a helpful hand-washing poster for any song you choose, ensuring you soap for at least 20 seconds.

For your pets, the same standards of hygiene apply. Make sure you stock up on paw wipes and clean their paws as often as possible; this is where most of the dirt and germs accumulate. Remember to clean under their nails—in fact, it’s best to trim their nails so they don’t accumulate too much dirt. Give them a bath if you feel their coat is growing matted and filthy. And wipe down counters and floors, especially areas where they sleep: keep your house clean!