Can Dogs Get The Coronavirus?

I continue to monitor reputable sources so ChiChis And Me can provide accurate information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on our pets. The World Health Organization has stated, “There is no evidence that dogs or cats can get coronavirus or any pet can transmit COVID-19.”

Last week a Pomeranian tested positive for the SARS-CoV2 (commonly known as coronavirus). People are now wondering about their dogs. Can a dog get coronavirus? Can a human catch it from their dog?

Be Careful of Misinformation!

As the virus continues to spread, people are beginning to panic and all kinds of misinformation on social media is spreading as fast as the disease.

Just a month ago when the daily death toll reached its peak in China, local officials of a village in Zhejiang province asked all residents to quarantine animals and slaughtered all stray dogs on the street (link in Chinese). Another village in China made a similar rule (link in Chinese) at the end of January to kill animals to contain the spread of the virus.

What is the truth?

I have read veterinarian and science journals and searched for the latest accurate information about whether dogs can get coronavirus that is out there and here is what I found out:

As Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) explained in a fact sheet last week, the Pomeranian (mentioned above) tested “weakly positive” for the virus in very sensitive tests that detected viral RNA in nose and mouth samples. “The dog has a low-level of infection of the coronavirus and it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission,” AFCD wrote. “We strongly advise that mammalian pet animals including dogs and cats from households with … infected persons should be put under quarantine … to safeguard public and animal health.” ~ AAAS Science

FAQ

Q. Can our dogs get the coronavirus from us?

A. There is no research at this time to support human to animal infection. The Pomeranian mentioned above is a single case of a dog getting coronavirus, from it, scientists learned that they need to do a lot more research into the human to animal coronavirus infection possibility.

However, cats and dogs are mammals too. They have many of the same types of receptors on their cells that we do. So, theoretically, the virus could attach to these receptors just as it can to ours. But, in all probability, it will not enter their cells and replicate.

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Still, people infected with coronavirus should limit contact with their pets. Wash their hands and not allow their pets to lick them on the face. If the virus is in their secretions and if there is any chance of potential transmission that is how it would be transmitted.

Q. Should we be testing the pets of those infected?

A. This is something that scientists say should be discussed if more cases of infected pets should occur. However, it is not a top priority at this time.

Q. Can pets be a carrier of the disease and pass it on to humans without actually being sick themselves?

A. If it turns out that pets can become infected — and we don’t know if that is the case — then they could absolutely be carriers. If that were so, scientists say they would have to figure out how to treat them. Vet hospitals — as human hospitals would have to be prepared for a surge in the number of cases.

If that were the case, our pets would have to be quarantined just like humans that are infected. Whether at a hospital, a shelter, or even a daycare. Humans in the household would have to limit contact with their pets, perhaps keeping them in a bedroom or another room that the rest of the household does not often use. You would have to take the same precautions of washing your hands frequently, even possibly wearing a mask.

Conclusion — What Can We Do Now To Safeguard Our Pets?

For now, the most important thing is to prepare them in the event that you should contract the coronavirus and can not leave the hospital. Make sure that you have extra food on hand and that your neighbors are aware of any feeding, walking, or medications that your dog (or any pets) need in case you face a long stay in the hospital, especially if you live alone.

Pack an emergency kit with everything your dog will need for two weeks and put it where it can be easily found. Be sure to let your neighbors, family, or friends know where to find it in case you need them to care for your pets while you are away or quarantined.

UPDATE:

MARCH 23, 2020

Another dog has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. A German Shephard, also in Hong Kong tested positive.

The Hong Kong government has urged people not to abandon their pets and to stop kissing them after a second dog tested positive for coronavirus, but stressed that the animal had not shown any symptoms of the disease.

The 17-year-old Pomeranian mentioned above died two days after being released from quarantine disease-free. The owners were unwilling to allow an autopsy to determine cause of death

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