Can pets get COVID?

Your cat or dog is crying out for a dose of petting, but you have tested positive for coronavirus. Are you at risk of infecting your little...

Your cat or dog is crying out for a dose of petting, but you have tested positive for coronavirus. Are you at risk of infecting your little four-legged friend?  

"There are millions of pets on the planet, however, only a few cases have been reported," explained Dr. Michel Pepin, Executive Director of the Association of Quebec veterinarians in small animal practice.   

"But there are possibilities of infecting them," he added. The virus would not develop in the same way as it does in humans."   

At the end of March, a cat was infected in Belgium, infected by its sick owner. Then similar cases were reported in Hong Kong where two dogs tested positive for COVID-19.   

These animals are believed to have contracted the virus from the people they lived with. And this weekend, a large feline tested positive for coronavirus. It is a tiger from the Bronx Zoo in New York City infected by its asymptomatic keeper.   

How do you know if your pet is sick? What would be the symptoms of COVID-19 in a cat or dog? "There could be a loss of appetite and minor respiratory problems," said Dr. Pepin. This is under observation, but for the moment we are not worried."   

The veterinarian also reminds us that animal fur can be contaminated with COVID-19 and thus become a vehicle for the transmission of the virus.   

It's "like a piece of furniture or any other object you touch," he said. If you have the coronavirus, cough and emit droplets into the environment, you can also contaminate your cat or dog's coat. It is not known how many hours the virus can stay in your cat's or dog's coat".   

With both humans and animals, it is therefore imperative to apply the principle of distancing.   

"If you meet animals in the street, you don't touch them and you avoid too close contact with your animal," insisted Dr. Michel Pepin. When you return from a walk, you can also wash your dog's paws with soapy water. Be careful not to use alcohol or Purell".