Coronavirus and Pets: What Precautions to take?

The awareness campaign created these days around the world due to the Coronavirus spread and dedicated to pets invites us all to keep loving them and do not abandon them!

There are lots of deceiving news, lots of fake news on the web, which do nothing but create unnecessary confusion and panic. We all should get well informed before taking action. For now, there is no scientific evidence that pets can contract Coronavirus or be a transmitting subject for humans. However, pets living with infected individuals should be put away from other people and animals, just as people who live with infected individuals must avoid approach with other people.

Therefore, the case of the dog that tests “positive” in Hong Kong, even though experts declare it is not possible for a dog to get COVID-19, is due to close contact of the pet with the infected person. This is why the virus was found in the pet’s nose. There is no evidence that the dog is ill or producing any symptoms. So, to sum things up, there was COVID-19 on the pet, the same way there was it on the floor or objects in the room, but the pet was not sick or touched.

So the right thing to do for now is to stay at home, keep calm and continue to follow the hygiene rules recommended for us and also for our four-legged friends, especially when returning home.

But if you have dogs and cats in the house, what hygiene rules should you follow?

Pets are part of the family and it is right to pay attention to them too, especially if you have dogs in the house that you walk around several times a day. These days more than ever we all have learned to always wash our hands and change our shoes and clothes when we return home. We should take care of our pets the same.

Wash the legs with water and euchlorine and rinse immediately very well as in the long run, it can cause irritation. As for the coat, we should soak a towel in a solution consisting of a measuring cup of alcohol (do not use denatured alcohol) and water. A solution that drastically lowers the infectious load.

The veterinarian doctors recommend these simple and practical rules to follow:

If the family is healthy, you can continue to go out for a short walk and allow the dog to do its physiological needs. But it must not become an excuse or a reason for assembly.

Face mask for pets is not needed in public since it doesn’ t protect it from virus transmission and it may produce breathing obstacles. The wearing of a face mask will not restrict anyone (human or animal) from being vulnerable to the virus. The mask is necessary in order to limit someone that is possibly corrupted from transmitting the virus to others through droplets, speaking, sneezing or coughing.

There is no danger to food safety since pets cannot contract the virus. Considering that your domestic animal is at the lowest exposure of COVID-19 infection, there are no particular actions needed to keep them away from contamination.

If you need a veterinarian, contact him by phone, he will evaluate and advise you on what to do. We all should be responsible, not to hide any symptoms for fear of leaving our pet alone. Just contact the competent authorities, and they will take care of them.

It is necessary also to avoid being kissed, snuggling, being licked, or sharing food. If the contact with your pet is a must, you should wear a face mask and wash your hands before and after.

In order to protect yourself these are the actions you should repeatedly do:

Wash hands often with soap and water

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if your hands are not proper

Stay away from sick people Stay home if you are sick

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throw it away

Clean and disinfect frequently objects and surfaces you touch often

Avoid going out but for urgent reasons, even if you are healthy

If you are sick with signs of illness and respiratory difficulties, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue, you should stay home until at least 24 hours after you are released from fever (100 degrees F) or signs of fever without the use of fever-reducing pills.

Avoid shaking hands. It is recommended that you avoid contact with pets if you are infected with Coronavirus, just as you would limit your contact with other people.

You have therefore understood how important it is to maintain hygiene and the attentions established in relationships between people, so apply them also to your pet!

The World Health Organization informs that there is no validation to imply that dogs or cats can be contaminated with the new Coronavirus. Make sure you spread this good news!

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