Find out what these precautions are and follow the recommendations to pet owners from the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade de Lisboa . Can pet animals, namely dogs and cats, become infected and transmit the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus? According to the World Organization for Animal Health (O.I.E.) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), there is no scientific evidence that dogs, cats, or other pets, transmit the new coronavirus. Are there any cases of companion animals infected by COVID-19? Sporadic reports have been released of a dog in Hong Kong, cats in China and Belgium, and a tiger in a zoo in the U. S., but it should be noted that these animals never had clinical signs. It was only possible to demonstrate that they were infected with SARS-CoV-2, with weakly positive laboratory test results, unable to distinguish whether it was the entire virus or non-infectious fragments, or that they had specific antibodies against SARS-CoV- 2. This reveals that they have been exposed to the virus and that they have overcome it, even in epidemiological scenarios with a large number of cases of COVID-19, such as in the city of Wuhan in China. Can I continue to walk my dog? Having a pet is not a risk factor for COVID-19. You can continue to go with the animals on the street, on a walk, as long as you follow the general preventive care measures widely publicized: Keep a distance of 2 meters from other people; Cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue or elbow; Do not touch the face, mouth or eyes. Animals like routines because they give them security. So you should create and maintain a routine of short walks and games at home, and stick to those schedules. Should animal guardians take special care? Yes, namely: Do not touch animals on the street, because if your guardians are infected, the hair of these animals may be streaked with the virus; Wash your hands thoroughly after interacting with your animals; Do not let your animals lick your face or sleep in people beds; Walk your pet twice a day or keep the pace he is used to; Avoid contact with other people and animals during the tours; After each trip to the street, clean the animal paws as soon as you get home. To do this, use a cloth or wipes moistened with disinfectant gel or wash the paws with blue and white soap. Do not use alcohol or bleach. In the end, always wash and disinfect your hands; As the walks have to be short, make games at home to exercise your animals, like hiding grains of food or toys to look for, throwing balls, etc; Adjust the amount of food so that the animals do not develop overweight or obesity due to less activity. If in doubt, call your veterinarian; Only in case of emergency or urgent medical care you should take your pets to the veterinarian. Call or send an email before you go and follow the safety rules of the veterinary medical service center you visit. Urgent situations are, for example: Lack of appetite for another 48 hours. Weight loss in a few days. State of consciousness changes. Loss of blood from any natural cavity or the presence of small or large bruises ("bruises") on the skin. Urinary difficulty or bloody urine. Breathing difficulty or frequent coughing. Frequent vomiting over 24 hours. Sudden unsuccessful attempts at vomiting and rapid increase in abdominal volume. Breathing difficulty or frequent coughing. Marked abdominal dilation. Severe pain with difficulty moving the neck or lumbar spine. Sudden inability of the animal to move. Intolerance to movement with marked weakness. Seizures in unmedicated animals or very long seizure. Have a planned alternative if you are infected, for a family member to stay with your dog or cat, or for a walk. In addition, we recall that: You should not postpone the first vaccinations of puppies and kittens, nor the revaccination of adult dogs for leptospirosis, leishmaniasis, kennel cough and rabies, nor the revaccination of semi-free adult cats for feline leukemia; Do not offer your food and be careful with leftover dishes. Food indiscretion is the main cause of acute diarrhea in dogs; Keep the chocolates away, as they may be toxic to your animals; Pack your clothes, as eating socks or other garments, or children small toys, is the main cause of foreign bodies; Give your dog a shampoo bath per week, unless he has a medical contraindication. How to proceed with the pet if someone at home is a suspect or a confirmed case of infection? We reinforce that these measures are for precaution, because not much is known about COVID-19 yet: Do not let the animal stay with the infected person; If this is not possible, people who are infected, with or without clinical signs, or even suspected, should wear masks whenever they come into contact with animals; Ideally, someone from the household who is not infected should take care of the animals; Have food for the animals at home for 15 days; If your pet is a chronic patient, have medication at home for a period of 15 days; If a visit to the veterinarian is essential, the veterinarian must be previously informed that the dog guardian or family members are infected. We urge animal owners not to panic due to distorted and amplified news on social media. Do not abandon your animals or hand them over to shelters. On the contrary, it is very important that you continue to take good care of them and enjoy their company. In difficult times, such as those we face today in social confinement and in a state of emergency, pets play a very beneficial role, providing companionship and joy. These recommendations to pet owners have been developed by the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade de Lisboa according to the orientations from: Organização Mundial de Saúde Animal (OIE); Associação Mundial de Médicos Veterinários de Pequenos Animais (WSAVA) ; Ordem dos Médicos Veterinários (OMV): Click here for more information and advice of Hospital da Luz about the novel coronavírus COVID-19 epidemic . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
