Can your pets contract coronavirus?

As the pandemic continues to sweep the nation and an increasing number of people are retreating indoors to protect themselves, many Australians will be spending more time with their furry friends. But the immediate concern self-isolation raises for many animal lovers is whether or not pets are susceptible to Covid-19 and what pet owners should be doing to prevent any risk.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), there is a possibility for some animals to become infected through close contact with infected humans. And unfortunately, if an animal contracts coronavirus, there may be implications for their health and welfare.

However, so far based on current circumstances, there is no evidence to suggest that animals have played a role in spreading the disease to humans. It has only shown that human to human transmission remains the main driver, meaning owners should not be worried about catching coronavirus from their pets.

For the safety of the animal, those who are sick with Covid-19 or who have been in direct contact with someone who has contracted the virus should avoid close contact with their pets as they would with other people to maintain their animal’s wellbeing.

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis in January, there have been several cases of cats and dogs testing positive to the virus following close contact with humans. The first case was a 17-year-old Pomeranian who unfortunately passed away, however the cause of death remains unknown as the owner refused to allow authorities to conduct an autopsy.

According to studies from the OIE, out of all of the animal species that have been investigated so far, cats are the most susceptible for contracting the virus and have known to be affected by the clinical disease. Meanwhile, dogs appear to be susceptible to infection but were shown to be less affected than cats.

Vet Dr Claire Stevens reminded panicked pet owners to continue taking extra precautionary measures for the safety of themselves and their pets, including washing hands thoroughly and avoiding contact with the face. She also added that being infected does not equal being infectious when it comes to the capability of animals spreading the virus.

As there is yet to be any evidence that animals pose a risk to humans contracting the disease, pet owners are reminded that there is no need to be concerned about having contact with companion animals as a result of the ongoing outbreak unless you are showing signs of the virus yourself.