Pets
Pets and the Risk of COVID-19 By Tracey Dowdy
Although the Centers for disease control hasn’t identified the exact source of the current outbreak of COVID-19, we know that it originally came from an animal, most likely a bat. As a result, many people have wondered if they need to worry about their pets carrying or transmitting the virus to them.
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he CDC has assured the public that there is minimal risk to humans from their pets. Dr. John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says, “There have really only been a handful of known domestic animal infections in the entire world. There are reports of a few cats in China, and two dogs tested positive there, too.” While pets worldwide have tested positive, the majority became sick after contact with humans with COVID-19.
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Buddy, a German Shepherd, became the first dog in the United States to be confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. On July 11, Buddy died. Veterinarians found that Buddy likely had lymphoma, though it’s unclear whether cancer made him more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus, if the virus was responsible for any of his symptoms, or if it was a tragic coincidence. According to the USDA, less than 75 animals have tested positive, with a small
number of these cases diagnosed in pets. While public health officials acknowledge they are still learning about SARS-CoV-2, there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus here in the United States. “Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals, including pets, could be affected,” says the CDC. VIVARESTON.COM
