People with COVID-19 can infect their pets with the new coronavirus. Conversely, it is almost impossible, according to experts. However, this does not apply to all animals.

   

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.

 

Pets do not spread the virus

Researchers say this extensive study is very useful. According to Thomas Mettenleiter, president of the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute (FLI) in Greifswald, the results are not surprising: "Confirm what we already know." However, a study with such a large number of pets is welcome. "Samples are not easy to obtain."

 

Contact with the pet should not be reduced (picture-alliance / dpa Themendienst / K. Neumann)

Healthy people should not restrict contact with pets

 

The study therefore confirms the FLI researchers' assumption that dogs or cats have not yet played a role in the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The decisive factor is the transmission from person to person. "We start from the premise that the virus is usually transmitted from humans to animals," says Mettenleiter. Therefore, FLI considers that healthy people have no reason to restrict contact with their pets. On the other hand, patients infected with coronavirus should avoid contact with pets in order not to infect them.

 

Animals do not die from coronavirus infection

So far, Mettenleiter claims, there is no evidence that the animals could die from coronavirus infection. Even if pets contract the virus, it does not automatically mean that it can spread to animals and then spread through nasal, coughing or fecal secretions.

 

In addition, researchers at FLI have found that there is currently no evidence to confirm that pigs, chickens and other farm animals can be infected with SARS-CoV-2. The institute is currently conducting experiments with several species of animals. According to the initial results, ferrets and fruit bats are sensitive to the virus, but chickens and pigs are not. Cattle studies are still in their infancy.

 

Outbreaks of coronavirus on farms

Scientists are also investigating how the virus reached mink farms in the Netherlands and Spain, infecting almost all the animals kept there - that is, whether farm staff infected the animals or vice versa.

 

Precautionary measure in mink farms in the Netherlands: over one million animals have been killed

 

The outbreak of coronavirus on mink farms near the Spanish town of La Puebla de Valverde, a village of 500 inhabitants in northwestern Aragon, was discovered after 14 employees tested positive for the new coronavirus in late May. Two other employees became infected after the farm was closed.

 

Outbreaks in the Netherlands began in April. During the examinations, veterinary professor Wim van der Poel, from the University of Wagingen, found that the strain of virus found in mink is similar to that circulating in humans.

"I suspected that it might be transferred to humans (from animals)," van der Poel said. Which happened to at least two farm employees.

 

Authorities killed more than a million miners

As a precautionary measure following the outbreak, the Spanish authorities ordered the killing of more than 92,000 minks on the farm. 90 percent were infected with the new coronavirus.

 

In the Netherlands alone, more than 1.1 million minks, which have spread the virus, have been killed, the Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Agency said.

 

There are about 160 mink farms in the Netherlands. The country is the fourth largest fur producer in the world, after Denmark, China and Poland. Spain has 38 mink farms, most of them in Galicia.

 

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On Christmas we celebrate and have fun with family and friends, but this period can be a source of stress for pets. There is a possibility that your four-legged friend will get sick because he is eating something he shouldn't or for other reasons.

So Bemorepanda gives you a small guide to help your non-speaking friend get through the holidays safely and happily.

Stress. During the Christmas period, many pets can suffer from the stress caused by this period. Many things, such as the arrival of friends and family to visit, loud noises, fireworks and excited children running around can trigger stress. Cats are the most sensitive, because any change in their daily routine can trigger stress. One tip to help them is to give them a quiet and safe refuge. You can put their bowls of food and water in a quiet bedroom. You can also consider using pheromone products or herbal medicines that will help you relax and calm down.

The decorations. Christmas is not Christmas without a big Christmas tree covered with lights and globes. The decorations help us make the house have a festive aura, but for dogs and cats they can be something new to play with or worse, something new to eat.

Ball-loving dogs may not be able to resist the temptation to play with the shiny glass globes. Cats may not be able to see the sound of a bell. For the safety of pets, monitor their activity and keep these objects as far away from them as possible.

These ornaments can cause gastrointestinal problems (the object may become blocked or cause cuts). Also, depending on the materials used to make them, some ornaments can be toxic when ingested.

Tinsel and ribbons. Cats really like to play with strings on which various toys are hung, and the tinsel, being shiny, is even more attractive. Although tinnitus is not poisonous, if it is eaten it can cause intestinal damage and surgery may be needed to remove it. The same goes for ribbons. If portions of the ribbon are food, they can in the worst case cause death of the animal by asphyxiation or, if they reach the intestine, they can cause injuries. And in the case of globes, you have to be careful. Hanging on the branches of the tree, the cat will find them as the perfect toys. If you accidentally break a globe, it can be cut into shards.

In order for these things not to happen, it would be good to get your four-legged child used to the decorations and the Christmas tree, or to install it in a room where he does not have access.

Plants. Some festive plants are poisonous. Poinsettia, for example, can cause hypersalivation, lethargy, vomiting and depression. There are other plants, such as mistletoe that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The fir tree, although not considered toxic, can become dangerous if the needles are ingested or not collected after they have fallen. They can cause cushioning or intestinal damage. So it's a good idea to make sure those falls are collected regularly.

House lily (Amaryllis) is a very popular plant during the winter season. Flowers and leaves are toxic to animals, and the flower bulb is even more toxic. If your pet has ingested flowers or leaves, it will suffer from vomiting, excessive salivation and diarrhea. If the animal has managed to eat from the bulb, especially in large quantities, it can cause weakness, tremor, seizures and changes in blood pressure.

Christmas lights. If your furry likes to play with cables, then it is important to keep it away from the lights in the Christmas tree when they are on. If you nibble them while they are on, they will transmit a fairly large shock that will be fatal. My advice is not to leave the lights on when you sleep or when you are away from home.

Electric shock can be fatal to your pet. Electric shock can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, called non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. This condition can cause respiratory problems and can be fatal.

Lighted candles. They must be kept on a stand, at a height that curious quadrupeds cannot reach.

A burn in the mouth can cause significant pain, and can lead to food refusal in the case of pets. If you notice that your pet is reluctant when it comes to food, salivates excessively or shows signs of sore mouth (for example, does not want to play with his toys), seek medical attention immediately.

The food. Christmas is for us the period when we forget about diets and pamper ourselves with delicious dishes. Christmas dishes are not only tempting for us, but also for them, especially if they are left at their fingertips. It would be best to store them carefully and not give them away (not even a little).

Walnuts. These nuts, especially macadamia nuts, can be toxic and cause muscle weakness, hypothermia and tremor in dogs. For cats this food is forbidden.

The bones. Whether you are cooking chicken, turkey, pork or beef, avoid giving your companion bones. These, once cooked, are quite brittle and can cause many injuries both in the pharynx and in the lining of the stomach and intestines, and if not intervened quickly can be fatal.

Alcohol. Many of us enjoy one or two glasses of alcohol. But don't forget the unattended glass if you have a dog around. Pets have a very low tolerance to alcohol, which causes serious liver damage.

Onions and related vegetables (garlic and leeks) should be kept away from them, as they can cause weakness, depression and lethargy.

Grapes, raisins and sultanas. These fruits are very dangerous for both dogs and cats. If eaten within 24 to 72 hours of ingestion may cause kidney failure.

Chocolate is dangerous because it contains an ingredient called theobromine. If your quadruped eats chocolate, it causes vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, changes in heart rate and, in severe cases, seizures. If you want to treat your fur with something sweet, you can get special chocolate for him from the pet shop.

Gifts. At Christmas you can treat your companion with a multitude of gifts, but you have to make sure that they do not hurt him. For example, if you want to take a collar from your cat, it must be of the "quick release" type, so that if your cat is caught with the collar in a tight place, it can be released. The same goes for dogs.

Christmas Tree. The most common species of natural Christmas trees are fir, pine and forest pine. In general, these trees are not very toxic, but the more the pet eats, the higher the level of toxicity.

Christmas tree-specific oils can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach, causing excessive salivation or even vomiting. The needles of these trees are not easily digestible and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, obstruction or puncture.

Make sure your pets do not have access to the water of the Christmas tree (if you have it in a pot). Dogs and cats can get sick from preservatives, pesticides, fertilizers or other agents such as aspirin, which can often be found in water to keep the tree in good condition. It is best to keep the water for the tree in a covered pot.

Natural Christmas trees are not the only problem. Artificial firs may contain toxic and indigestible materials that can cause intestinal obstruction.

The good thing about artificial firs is that the materials they are made of are stinging and usually not pleasant to chew. Most of the time the animals will not consume large amounts of these materials.\

Take care of you and your loved ones on this holiday!

Merry Christmas 2022! HO-HO-HO

Losing weight is hard, and this applies to both people and animals. It is much easier to gain weight by uncontrollably eating high-calorie snacks and brushing off the thought that someday you will have to lose all the pounds you have eaten. And if a person himself can decide that he needs to lose weight, pets cannot do that. That is why it is so important to be attentive to your pet, and when he reminds you more of a barrel with legs than a dog or a cat, it urgently needs to be put on a diet and put in order, as the people from our article did.

 

From an overweight dog on the verge of falling asleep due to health problems to a smiling slender boy

 

“When we adopted my cat, he weighed 10 kg. Today he is a healthy 5 kg cat who no longer suffers from diabetes. "

 

“We saved our dog and put him on a diet. Now she's sterilized and slender. "

 

Kai lost 45 kg in one year and is now a cheerful dog again

 

"The diet we put Phoebe on worked great!"

 

A pot-bellied cat named Bruno before and after losing weight

 

“Epic Weight Loss Buddy! Previously, he weighed about 20 kg, and now 13 " 

 

“I got Belle about two months ago (she was like the picture on the left) and immediately put her on a diet. Here are the results she has achieved "

 

 

In total, this once massive boy lost about 10 kg

 

This cat was so big that he could hardly fit in the photo, but he was put on a diet and he has already achieved great success.

 

“I rescued Sookie from a puppy farm where she was kept just to breed puppies. At that time she weighed 33 kg, but after a few months of proper care, her weight dropped to 21 "

 

“Despite the fact that we loved our chubby girl, we knew that she would be happier and healthier when she lost weight. After we put her on a diet and established a feeding schedule, she is no longer a fat woman! "

 

“Eli has lost a whole cat in weight! From 10 kg to 6 "

 

"From 95 grams to 80 grams. Alexander achieved his goal!"

 

In 2019, Barsik weighed a staggering 18 kg. But he was put on a diet and in 2020 he weighed down to 13

 

This is Molly, who was taken into the care of a caring girl to get her in shape. Unfortunately, the dog died at the age of 6. Please don't overfeed your pets, it kills!