Can Your Dog Get Coronavirus? Want a quick answer?
CDC and WHO have categorically stated that there has been no cases reported thus far that show the infection spreading from pets to their owners.
Coronavirus 2019 (or COVID-19, as is the official name) is an infectious illness brought about by serious intense respiratory disorder coronavirus 2 (SARS coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2), an infection firmly identified with the SARS virus.
The disease was found and named during the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak. Those that are infected with this disease may build up a fever, weakness, and shortness of breath.
An irritated throat, runny nose or wheezing is less common. While most of cases bring about mellow symptoms, some can advance to pneumonia and multi-organ failure.
The disease is spread from one individual to others through respiratory droplets created from the airways, frequently during coughing or sneezing. Time from introduction to beginning of side effects is for the most part somewhere in the range of 2 and 14 days, with an average of 5 days latency.
The standard strategy for diagnosis is by a process called the reverse transcription polymerase chain response (rRT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab or sputum test, with results coming in within hours to a couple of days.
Antibody agents can likewise be utilized, using a blood serum test, with results inside a couple days. The disease can likewise be analyzed by looking at a blend of side effects, chance variables and a chest CT scan demonstrating features of pneumonia.
Hand washing, keeping up distance from individuals who are coughing and not touching one’s face with unwashed hands are measures prescribed to forestall the disease.
It is likewise prescribed to cover one’s nose and mouth with a tissue or a bowed elbow when coughing. Those who think they might have the infection are prescribed to wear a face mask and look for clinical counsel by calling a doctor instead of visiting a center face to face.
Masks are additionally prescribed for the individuals who are dealing with somebody that may have the coronavirus that is yet to be diagnosed.
There is no antibody or explicit antiviral treatment, and treatment is only available to manage the symptoms and provide supportive care.
The case mortality rate is assessed at somewhere in the range of 1% and 3%, meaning 1 to 3 or every 100 people infected with the virus will die.
The WHO has proclaimed the 2019–20 coronavirus episode a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). As of 7 March 2020, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are zones having proof of network transmission of this deadly disease.
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What causes the coronavirus?
It is a viral disease meaning it is caused by a virus. Nomenclatured as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), this virus is responsible for the recent pandemic.
The virus has a latency period of up to 14 days, meaning that affected people might not even show symptoms for up to 14 days. It is infectious and spreads in people via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes.
The virus is predicted to have originated from the animal kingdom, presumptively bats.
We have data now that shows there have been several instances of continuous common source outbreaks, meaning several animal to human zoonotic events have occurred in the months preceding the January 2020 outbreak.
The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market has been recognized as the origin point of this animal to human transmission.
What makes Covid 19 so dangerous is that even if someone is affected, there is no surefire way of being certain of his infection since it has such a long latency period.
The danger of that is, there may presumptively be many people roaming free, unaware of their infection, while spreading it onto the community at large.
What are the symptoms of Covid 19?
People who are suffering from the Covid 19 infection may show symptoms including but not restricted to fever, coughing and breathing trouble.
Patients have also presented with diarrhea or sore throat, although they are far less frequent than the others. If the symptoms are not immediately treated, it can progress to pneumonia and lead to multi-organ failure.
The incubation period of the virus is 1 to 14 days, meaning people infected with it can continue to test negative for up to 14 days before they test positive of Covid 19.
The average incubation period across the globe is 5-6 days with an average mortality rate of 1.5%, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
It is therefore clear that Covid 19 is a growing problem that we don’t have a solution to.
It spreads rapidly, is silent for days before symptoms show up and can cause serious health complications including death. Therefore, one wonders what its impact are going to be on pets.
A lot of us own pets and it is justified to be concerned about their wellbeing. After all, they do spend a considerable time unsupervised and there are plenty of chances for them to pick up the virus when they are on their own.
It is a terrifying prospect for anyone to imagine their pets being affected by such a deadly virus and is perhaps even more worrisome consider the possibility of being infected from your pet.
In the next section, we take a look at how coronavirus affects dogs and what precautions you can take to ensure their well being.
Can your dog get coronavirus?
CDC and WHO have categorically stated that there has been no cases reported thus far that show the infection spreading from pets to their owners.
However, there has been one case of a dog in Hong Kong testing weak positive for Covid 19. It is understood that the dog contracted the virus from its owner who had been diagnosed with the virus.
The dog was immediately removed and placed in quarantine for further studies and to identify if it truly had the virus or picked up traces of the virus from a contaminated surface.
The scientists ran extensive analysis of its bloodwork and concluded that the dog had a low level of infection and it is contracted from the owner.
It is important here that we stress for you to not panic. Pets had been tested positive for having contracted the virus in 2003 as well at the time of SARS epidemic.
Our previous experience and data suggests that although pet animals may get infected, they are unlikely to get sick like humans do. They also do not transmit the virus.
In this case as well, the dog in question hasn’t fallen ill despite testing weak positive and there is no evidence to suggest that he is transmitting the disease further. Therefore there is no reason to panic about a viral transmission from pet dogs to human beings.
If your dog tests positive, please understand that you and your loved ones are in no risk of contracting the disease from the dog.
There is no cause for concern and certainly no reason to abandon your pets if they test positive. However, if there are members of your household that have the infection, it is a good idea to keep the dog in quarantine for its own wellbeing.
If you are genuinely worried about your pet contracting the infection, there are a few precautions you can take to make sure that the chances of infection are marginal. We discuss the preventive measures in the next section.
Preventive measures for your pet to follow.
Although there is no data to show dogs falling ill because of Covid 19, we can never be too sure.
It is a good idea to maintain our pet’s hygiene and inculcate good habits that keep them from contracting not only deadly diseases like Covid 19 but a host of other illnesses as well.
Give your dog a bath at least once a week.
Good hygiene goes a long way in preventing contraction and infection of deadly diseases such as the coronavirus.
Give your dog a good clean bath every week to make sure that your pet is clean and would not be at an elevated risk of contraction.
Use a good doggy shampoo and take your time to lather the whole body, including the underbelly.
Rinse off with clean water to complete the bath. Your doggy will look better, smell fresh and have a better chance against deadly diseases.
Rub off the drool at regular intervals.
Dogs typically salivate a lot and often they will drool from the corner of their mouths.
Coronavirus is transmitted through droplets floating in the air and therefore it is wise to make sure that your dog is not drooling.
Keep a clean cloth handy to rub its face and make sure to wash the cloth at the end of the day.
Wash their paws when they come back home.
Dogs love a good walk. It is a good idea to take your dogs out and play with them but please make sure that their paws are washed properly and thoroughly when they come back.
Their paws get in contact with all sorts of elements and it is important to clean them properly before they go inside your home.
Cleaning should be done with a gentle brush or by hand and special care should be taken to clean between the nails.
You can conversely opt for a doggy shoe which not only looks cute but also eliminates the need for such thorough cleaning every time you go out with your pet.
So there’s nothing to worry about?
We do not have any data right now that indicates that dogs can get ill because of the coronavirus. Therefore you do not need to panic at this moment.
If someone in your family or neighborhood has been diagnosed with the virus, it is a good idea to get a test for yourself and the dog.
If your dog comes back to be positive from the test, please remember that we don’t have data to suggest canines can infect humans with the coronavirus and please don’t abandon them because of that.
Quarantining them in a separate room might be a good idea. Adopt a clean hygiene routine just to be extra safe and look out for more updated tips here as we learn more about the pandemic. Please remain calm and treat your dog with love and care, and everything will be alright.
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Related questions.
Can my dog give me coronavirus?
We do not have any data right now that suggests it to be a possibility. Although we have one case of a dog being affected by Covid 19 in Hong Kong, there is no evidence to show that it is transmitting the virus to its immediate environment.
Of what we know till now, no dog has fallen sick because of the coronavirus and from historical data, we are inclined to believe that it will hold. Therefore no, your dog cannot give you coronavirus.
However, you should still adopt some good hygiene practices and follow them in your day to day life in order to significantly minimize the risk of such diseases affecting you and your lovely little pet.
