March 2020, the World Health Organization announced that the COVID-19 novel coronavirus is a worldwide pandemic. It caused global panic over the spread of the infection, people around the world are worried about their own well-being as well as the health of their pets. It’s essential to explain the realities that are limited about the Coronavirus, and the unavoidable issue on dog owners’ minds: can dogs get Coronavirus?
A pet dog in Hong Kong recently tested positive for the virus and has a low-level infection. Hong Kong researchers aren’t sure if the canine that tested positive for COVID-19 is really affected by its owner or if it got the infection from a contaminated surface. This news is raising concerns that the Coronavirus spreading far and wide can also infect other pets. The Pomeranian apparently belongs to a 60-year-old woman who developed symptoms of the virus on February 12 and later tested positive, as indicated by The Wall Street Journal. Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said that the dog doesn’t show any symptoms. The dog is under isolation at a port in Hong Kong and will come back to the owner once it tests negative for the infection, as per the organization.
The department said no proof recommends pets like cats or dogs can be infected with the Coronavirus, although the infection appears to have originated from an animal — researchers have reported a bat. In any case, the circumstance is as yet evolving, researchers say. There’s no current proof to recommend that dogs can spread the new Coronavirus to different canines or to humans, Chinese authorities say.
Could Dogs Get Coronavirus from A Human?
Coronavirus, popularly known as COVID-19 is transmitted from humans to humans in close contact through nasal and oral pathway according to the World Health Organization. Research shows that the origin of COVID-19 is from animals, and a piece of recent news went viral about a dog in Hong Kong testing positive for Coronavirus. So, could our felines and mutts conceivably get the Coronavirus? Is there a possibility that cats and dogs could spread it to other animals and even people?
A tiger has also tested positive for COVID-19 at a New York City zoo, and a couple of pets outside of the U.S. have tested positive too. There’s no proof or evidence at the moment showing pets could get Coronavirus from close contact or indirect contact with a human. Cats and dogs are warm-blooded mammals as well, and they have many of the similar kinds of receptors on their cells as humans do; so, there is a little possibility that your dog could test positive for the virus. Yet, the odds of the COVID-19 going into their cells and duplicating are very thin. The human to animal transmission hypothesis is yet to be confirmed for now.
Can Dogs Give You Coronavirus?
A similar event during the SARS epidemic also caused widespread fear over the virus spreading to pets, which is another sort of Coronavirus that flared up back in 2003. The strains that canines and felines typically get don’t cause respiratory issues. “They are different infections compared with the COVID-19 virus”, explained Jane Gray, Hong Kong SPCA’s chief veterinary specialist.
Would it be Advisable for me to Quarantine My Pet?
Many pet owners in mainland China equip their pets with face masks; however, there’s little advantage. It may even upset the pets even more as a matter of fact that it could make them show clinical indications of mental conditions. Pet owners should then stick to proper hygiene. WHO encourages pet parents to wash their hands with cleanser frequently after handling pets. Pet owners should clean the paws of their dogs with disinfectant wipes after a walk outside. Let’s just be mindful not to overdo it so as not to cause harm to our beloved pets.
The CDC suggests that we don’t allow our pets to come into close contact with different people or animals outside the family unit for now. So, What About The Pomeranian Dog In Hong Kong, and Other Zoo Animals Testing Positive? The only dog who tested a “weak positive” for COVID-19, stays in isolation and has not shown any clinical indications of the Coronavirus contamination. It’s likewise the only dog that has shown such an outcome. While cats are the first pets to test positive in the U.S., a number of tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo have tested positive for the virus.
There is no compelling reason to fear for these furry animals in your home. Make sure to simply wash your hands with soap and cleansers as often as possible, and take care of yourself and your loved ones. While the Coronavirus gives off an impression of being transmissible from people to animals, researchers state they have not seen proof showing animals can transmit it to humans. Researchers in Hong Kong made comparable inferences after a canine tested positive in the past few months. “We don’t need individuals to panic. Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC official who works on human-animal health connections said, “We don’t want people to be afraid of pets,”. She added that people should not rush to get their pets tested. “There’s no evidence that pets are playing a role in spreading this disease to people. “
What should pet owners do?
Until there is a concrete study on how this disease infects animals, it is of utmost importance that we treat pets as we would other humans to shield them from a potential virus. Since there is a minimal risk that humans with COVID-19 could spread the infection to animals, the CDC suggests that pet owners limit their pet’s interaction with other people. There is no proof that the infection can spread to individuals from the skin, fur, or hair of pets.
• Keep cats indoors whenever the situation allows and don’t let them wander outside.
• Walk dogs on a safe leash at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others.
• Avoid dog parks or open public places where people and dogs usually gather.
• Stay away from open public places where large groups of individuals accumulate.
• Try not to put face masks on your pets. Covering a pet’s face could cause them harm.
• Try not to wipe or wash your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or some other items not approved for animal use.
• Wear gloves and garments that can be washed.
If you feel symptoms of sickness with COVID-19 and have to care for a pet:
• Isolate yourself from everyone, including your pet.
• Wear a face shield and wash your hands when you interact with them.
• Avoid contact with your pet, including petting, cuddling, being kissed or licked, sharing food, and sleeping in the same bed.
• Consult with your veterinarian if your pet becomes ill or if you have any worries about your pet’s well-being.
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