Should I be Worried About Getting COVID-19 from my pet?

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic caught us all off guard. Suddenly, hand washing, social distancing, and staying at home is our new routine.

To add to the chaos, reports of some animals testing positive for COVID-19 have caused worry for pet owners. Is it possible that our furry family members could spread the infection?

Some Background on Coronavirus

It’s important to understand that COVID-19 is a new coronavirus and we’re learning more about it every day.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause cold-like illnesses in people, while others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, infect only those species.

There are also coronaviruses that infect certain types of animals, like cattle, camels, or bats. In rare cases, these viruses can spread to humans who then transmit the virus to other humans. This is what happened with the virus causing the current outbreak of COVID-19.

Can My Pet Spread Coronavirus?

Person-to-person spread of the coronavirus occurs mostly when an infected person coughs or sneezes and releases saliva or mucus droplets. People infected but not showing symptoms may spread the virus this way as well.

Touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching your mouth, nose, or possibly eyes appears to be a secondary method of transmission for people.

The cause for concern regarding spread by animals is the surface contamination transmission issue. Could a pet’s fur or hair carry the coronavirus? And could a human who touched or came into contact with the pet become infected?

This hasn't been the case, fortunately, since pet fur is porous and porous materials don’t transmit viruses well. Certain bacteria and fungi can be carried on fur and hair, but we have no examples of viruses being transmitted this way and, therefore, no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people from the skin or fur of pets.

Caring for Your Pet if You Get Infected

To date, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) states that the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered low, which is welcome news for pet owners.

However, until more is known about this virus, should you become ill with COVID-19, restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just as you would restrict contact with other people.

If restricting contact isn’t possible, then wear a cloth face covering when your pets are with you; don’t share food, kiss, or hug them, and wash your hands before and after any contact with them.