Dog Health: Can Dogs Get Covid?
CAN DOGS GET COVID-19? Dog Health & Coronavirus – What You Need to Know
It’s a worry, for sure. We love our dogs, and in this damned pandemic we’ve asked ourselves “can dogs get coronavirus?”
We take our new puppy with us when we head out for a secure grocery pick-up. And she loves a brisk, inquisitive walk in the park (away from other leashed walkers). But can’t help wondering “What if?” What if, while happily sniffing all those bushes, she picks up something from a previous canine visitor?
Is our little Bella in danger? Can dogs get Covid?
We already this Dog Health alert: “A team of Florida International University researchers have trained detector dogs to accurately identify the COVID-19 virus.”
International Forensic Research Institute director DeEtta Mills explained, “COVID-19 produces unique odor chemicals and also causes metabolic changes in those infected with the virus, resulting in odors that dogs can detect.” Which I guess is good news. But are those brilliant detector dogs being put in harm’s way themselves?
Can dogs catch the coronavirus? Can pets transmit the virus of Covid-19 to people? Should I get my animals tested for Covid?
So we went right to the top for the latest news. The CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s what they’re saying:
Risk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.
“We are still learning about this virus, but it appears that it can spread from people to animals in some situations, especially after close contact with a person with COVID-19. The first U.S. case of an animal testing positive for COVID-19 was a tiger at a New York zoo.”
Animals that can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
“We know that cats, dogs and some other mammals can be infected with COVID-19, but we don’t yet know all of the animals that can get infected. There have been reports of animals being infected with the virus worldwide.
“A small number of pet cats and dogs have been reported to be infected with Covid in several countries, including the United States. One ferret was reported positive for the virus in Slovenia. Most of these pets became sick after contact with people with COVID-19.
“Several animals in zoological facilities have tested positive for COVID-19, including large cats and great apes. Several lions and tigers in a New York zoo, a puma in South Africa, tigers in a Tennessee zoo, snow leopards at a Kentucky zoo, and gorillas at a California zoo tested positive for the caronavirus after showing signs of illness.
It’s suspected that these animals became sick after being exposed to zoo employees with COVID-19, despite the staff following COVID-19 precautions.
“Data from studies suggest that dogs can get infected but might not spread the virus to other dogs as easily as cats and ferrets can spread the virus to other animals of the same species.”
This is their conclusion: “These findings were based on a small number of animals, and do not show whether animals can spread infection to people. More studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19.”
It looks as if our canine companions are safe as long as we practice all the standard protocols and behavior that we have come to know so well: handwashing, social distancing as well as masks at medical centers and large public events (at least). Which means our beloved dogs are safe as long as we love ’em and protect ’em, the way they love and protect us. We’re in it together.
“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe
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CAN DOGS GET COVID 19? Dog Health & Coronavirus – What You Need to Know
Updated October 21, 2023
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