Many of our clients have been asking questions about COVID-19 and how it may or may not affect the health and well being of their pet. We wanted to review some of the key information the Center for Disease Control has published.
The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and talking. At this time, the CDC has no evidence that pets can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to people. Pets have other types of coronaviruses that can make them sick, such as canine and feline coronaviruses. These other coronaviruses cannot infect people and are not related to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
The CDC recommends that you treat your pets as you would other human family members. Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals. Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs have gathered. The CDC also recommends keeping cats indoor at this time. If a person inside the household becomes sick, isolate that person from everyone else, including pets.
Remember, always practice good hygiene with your pets. Wash your hands after handling your pet’s food, waste, or other supplies. You can also increase the frequency of bathing your pet to wash any impurities off of their fur.
