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Your Dog Could Get Coronavirus From You, But It's Unlikely You'll Get It From Your Dog
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 5, 2020
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ALEX PLAVEVSKI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 5, 2020
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As the number of COVID-19 cases grow in the United States and New York region, some people are wondering basic questions, like "How do I know if I have coronavirus?" or "Can I walk my dog if I have coronavirus?" It turns out that experts don't recommend you care for your pets if you are ill, especially in light of news that a dog has been infected with the novel coronavirus.
Health authorities in Hong Kong announced on Wednesday that a Pomeranian belonging to a woman with COVID-19 was infected with coronavirus. According to the South China Morning Post, "The Pomeranian, which repeatedly tested 'weak positive' since last Friday–suggesting it was surface contamination, with the dog picking up traces of the virus in its nose and mouth rather than being actually infected–will now remain under quarantine with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for further testing."
Health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee said, "It is positive to tests and has been infected, so it is now quarantined in a centre by the department. Further tests will be conducted and it will not be released until the tests return negative results."
This is apparently the first known case of human-to-pet transmission of COVID-19. However, officials are quick to emphasize that pets are not known as a transmitter of the disease. The Hong Kong Department of Agriculture declared, "Pet owners need not be overly concerned and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets."
"Members of the public are advised to differentiate that ‘being infected’ does not equal being infectious and capable of spreading the COVID-19 virus. We wish to remind the public that there is no evidence that companion animals can transmit the disease to humans," the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Animals posted on Facebook. The HKSPA also said that the dog is "currently very healthy and doing well at the quarantine centre."
A spokesperson for the World Health Organization also said, "Based on past experience with coronaviruses and our current understanding of COVID-19, we do not think common household pets are spreading the disease or making people sick."
One respiratory disease expert told the SCMP that it seemed unclear if such a positive diagnosis could be made, because it was unclear if blood tests were used to make the confirmation.
But what do you do with your pets if you have coronavirus? We asked the American Veterinary Medical Association for guidance if someone could walk their dog if they had COVID-19. Spokesperson Michael San Filippo cited the Hong Kong case and said, "Anyone who has COVID-19 should limit their contact with people and animals, so with regards to dog walking, someone other than the infected person should take care of that responsibility, and for any other care of the pet. Infected people should also avoid petting animals, snuggling, or sharing food with them."
(Plus, if you have coronavirus, or think you do, you probably shouldn't be out and about anyway: The NYC Department of Health notes on its self-monitoring protocol, "People on home self-monitoring are also asked to stay at home and avoid going outside for the entire self-monitoring period.")
"Those who are sick and must care for their pets, or are around other animals while sick, should wear an appropriate face mask and wash their hands before and after interacting with those animals," he continued, "All of this, it should be noted, is recommended out of an abundance of caution."
Of the case in Hong Kong, the dog hasn't exhibited any signs of illness, and, again, there hasn't been any evidence that companion animals can spread coronavirus. "As with any disease, it's always a good idea to wash your hands after having contact with animals," San Filippo said. "The AVMA continues to recommend that everyone, including pet owners, practice good hygiene as their best means of preventing illness and/or transmission of disease to others." (The WHO notes that Salmonella and E.Coli can pass between humans and pets.)
Hong Kong SPCA's chief veterinary surgeon Jane Grey told CNN, "I am certainly not in any concern of my dog or cats, I'm far more concerned about myself catching it from a human being that has the disease."
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coronavirus
pets
Hong Kong
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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