People with COVID-19 can infect their pets with the new coronavirus. The reverse is almost impossible, according to experts. However, this is not the case for all animals. Bemorepanda informs you.

 

Italian researchers tested 540 dogs and 277 cats in households, where people had tested positive for COVID-19, or in areas severely affected by the pandemic, such as Lombardy. The scientists detected antibodies against the virus in 3.4% of dogs and 3.9% of cats.

 

Studies on a relatively large number of animals confirm the premise that pets can be infected by humans with SARS-CoV-2, but vice versa is very unlikely. Tests taken from the mouth, nose and throat tested negative in all animals. Cats and dogs were tested between March and May 2020.

What you need to know

• If your pet tests positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, isolate the pet from everyone else, including other pets.
• Do not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products, such as hand sanitizer, counter-cleaning wipes, or other industrial or surface cleaners.
• Only a few pets have been confirmed to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Some pets did not show any signs of illness, but those pets that did get sick all had mild disease that could be taken care of at home. None have died from the infection.
• If you think your pet has COVID-19, call a veterinarian first to discuss what you should do.
• Pets with confirmed infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 should be restricted to isolation in the home until a veterinarian or public health official has determined that they can be around other pets and people.

 

What to do if your pet gets sick

• Keep your pet at home, except to get medical care
• Talk with your veterinarian regularly. Call before you take your pet to the veterinary clinic. Be sure to alert your veterinarian if your pet has trouble breathing, or if you think it is an emergency.

 

While most pets appear to show only mild symptoms or no symptoms, we are still learning about how they are affected by the virus. Even if your pet appears to be feeling better, avoid the following activities until your veterinarian determines that it is safe for your pet to do so or your pet has met the guidance to end their isolation:

• Visits to veterinary hospitals, without calling the veterinarian first
• Visits to human healthcare facilities or schools
• Visits to parks (including dog parks), markets, or other gatherings such as festivals
• Visits to the groomer, including mobile grooming salons
• Visits to pet daycares or boarding facilities
• Other outings such as playdates, hikes, or visiting other homes, with or without pets
• Using dog walkers or pet-sitters that live outside your home

Separate your pet from other people and pets in your home

• Have the pet stay in a designated “sick room” (such as a laundry room or extra bathroom) if possible, or otherwise be separated from people and other animals. This is the same way a person with COVID-19 would separate from others in their household.
• Avoid contact with the pet as much as possible, including, petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding.
• If possible, provide a separate litterbox or bathroom area from other pets.

 

DOGS: If you have a private backyard where your dog can go to the bathroom, do not take them for walks. If you must walk your dog, limit it to bathroom breaks only, stay close to your home, and keep your pet at least 6 feet away from other pets and people. Do not let other people touch or interact with your dog.

CATS: Cats should be kept inside. Do not allow cats that have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 to roam outside.

CLEANING UP: There is no evidence to suggest that waste from infected pets needs any additional disinfection. Wear gloves when cleaning up after your pet, and place fecal material or litterbox waste in a sealed bag before disposing. Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after cleaning up after your pet.

• Provide bedding, bowls or containers, treats, and toys that are separate from those used by other people or animals in the household.
• Disinfect bowls, toys, and other animal care items with an EPA-registered disinfectant

external icon and rinse thoroughly with clean water afterwards.

• Soft items like towels, blankets, and other bedding, can be safely laundered and reused. Dirty laundry that has been in contact with an ill animal can be washed with other items.

 

Monitor your pet’s symptoms

It is important to keep track of your pet’s symptoms during home isolation. If you think your pet has new symptoms or is getting worse, call your veterinarian.

Pets sick with COVID-19 may have:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Lethargy (unusual laziness or sluggish)
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Eye discharge
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

 

Follow all care instructions from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may have you keep a written log of your pet’s symptoms.

If your pet develops new symptoms or seems to be getting worse, including trouble breathing, you should call your veterinarian right away. Your veterinarian may be able to advise you over the phone or may tell you to bring your pet to their clinic or go to another clinic that can better care for your pet.

Protect yourself when caring for a sick pet

• Follow similar recommended precautions as for people caring for an infected person at home.
• If you are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, another household member should care for the pet, if possible.
• People should wear a mask and gloves in the same room or area as the sick pet.
• Animals should not wear a mask. Do not try to put a mask on your pet.
• Use gloves when handling the pet’s dishes, toys, or bedding and when picking up feces (poop). Throw out gloves and place waste material or litterbox waste in a sealed bag before throwing away in a trashcan lined with a trash bag. Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after cleaning up after your pet.
• Clean your hands regularly throughout the day.
• Wash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each Make sure everyone in the home does the same, especially after touching the sick pet or handling their dishes, toys, or bedding.
• Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and then disinfect:
• Follow cleaning and disinfecting recommendations found on CDC’s Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home
• Do not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products, such as hand sanitizer, counter-cleaning wipes, or other industrial or surface cleaners.

 

There is no evidence that viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread to people or other animals from the skin, fur, or hair of pets. Using chemical disinfectants on your pet could make them very sick or kill them. Talk to your veterinarian​ if you have questions about appropriate products for bathing or cleaning your pet.

 

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While there is no clear sign when the coronavirus epidemic will end, one thing is for sure - people are starting to gain weight. They gym are closed, you cannot run in the park and if you do, you risk to get a fine and also you risk spreading the virus.

 

But that does not stop us to imagine how our life will look like after the pandemic will end. One of the recent videos posted online of a lazy cat got the attention of many users, as this is exactly how they see themselves after post coronavirus:

 

Click here to see the video - watch now