No, Your Dog Can’t Give You COVID-19 And Other Answers

HUFT Editorial

Content Writer

Feb 18, 21

The issue on everyone’s mind is COVID-19 and what they can do to keep their loved ones safe. For pet people, of course, this includes their furry companions. Does COVID-19 affect pets? Can you get it from them? Do extra measures need to be taken to protect them?

We’ve checked info from the WHO (World Health Organisation) and OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) to get you answers.

Can pets transmit COVID-19?

No, the WHO has stated that there is no evidence that a pet can transmit COVID-19 to humans. The current pandemic is a result of human-to-human transmission. When a person infected by COVID-19 sneezes, coughs or even speaks, droplets produced by that person can transmit the virus to other people.

Wait, wasn’t there a dog in China that tested positive?

Yes, a dog in Hong-Kong tested a weak positive for COVID-19 and the authorities say that it was a case of HUMAN-to-dog transmission. The munchkin’s family had COVID-19 and due to close exposure, he tested positive. Don’t worry, he did not display any signs of the disease and was absolutely fine. While the scientific community is still learning about this disease, there is no evidence that it harms pets.

So the answer is still – No, you cannot catch COVID-19 from your pets and they cannot transmit the disease. To quote OIE “there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals which may compromise their welfare.” You can read the report via World Organisation for Animal Health linked below.

Should you be doing something?

Yes, don’t panic. Look to reliable sources of information like the WHO for your updates rather than sensationalized media articles. Also,

For yourself:

If you’re showing symptoms of COVID-19, get tested. Still, don’t panic 80% of infected people recover without any special treatment.
It is important to stay in quarantine for you and your loved ones.

For your pets:

There is no evidence that pets can get sick from COVID-19 but the World Organisation for Animal Health recommends that affected persons limit their exposure to companion animals.
If possible, ask another member of the household to care for them. If that is not possible, wash your hands (at least for 20 secs with soap) before and after handling pets or feeding them.

You should avoid giving them kisses, letting them lick you or sharing food. OIE also suggests you wear a mask around your pets so you avoid getting any droplets on them (if you test positive).

For your relatives/friends & community:

If you test positive or even show symptoms, isolate yourself. While it may not affect you much, you could pass it on to an elderly auntie, uncle, dadi or young niece/nephew/ neighbour who does not have as strong an immune system as you do.
For people with underlying conditions like diabetes, high BP or heart issues, COVID-19 can prove fatal.

General information about COVID-19

COVID-19 is a virus that belongs to the coronavirus family and was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections in humans. The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) was also a strain of coronavirus.
Common symptoms include a dry cough, tiredness and fever. Some people may develop a running nose, nasal congestion, body aches, a sore throat and diarrhoea.

How do we beat this?

The scientific community is working very hard to find ways to beat COVID-19. In the meantime, China has seen the tide turning with fewer and fewer new cases being reported as of March 2020. Taking the necessary precautions and limiting contact to prevent transmission is crucial. So, even if you can’t see physical evidence of it being around you, try to work from home, postpone parties and stay in for a week or two. Prevention is better, right? Let’s be sensible and we can get through this with minimum damage to our communities. Remember to keep calm, use face masks and wash those hands!

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