What pet owners need to know about COVID-19

COVID-19 has swept the globe and changed our lives.
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 originated in a wild animal market in China in December 2019 and has rapidly traversed the globe, causing over 2 million human illnesses to date. Many countries have implemented stay-at-home orders to distance us from each other to slow the transmission and save lives. For some pets, this is the best time of their lives. They have you home all day and are getting all the extra attention and playtime they've always wanted. For others, they are overwhelmed and desperately in need of their mid-day naps. They sense our anxiety but can't understand the cause. So first, take a moment to pause and observe your pets' behavior. If you see signs of stress - lack of appetite, pacing, panting, destructive behaviors, change to play, loss of training - follow these tips to soothe your pet.

• Create a new routine - predictable schedules calm anxious pets
• Stick to mealtimes and limit treats 
• Give your pet a safe quiet place to escape from the hubbub, and teach children not to disturb a sleeping pet
• Pick one new activity - a walk, a new trick, a play session - and build that into the daily  routine

 
Can pets get COVID-19?

Research is ongoing, but at this time there is no evidence that our pets can get seriously ill from this coronavirus. The virus that causes Covid-19 can infect cats and ferrets, but this is only happening rarely. The tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo in New York displayed mild respiratory signs after their exposure from an asymptomatic person who had contact with them. Researchers have also shown that cats can spread the virus to other cats, but at this time there is no evidence that a cat can give the virus to a person. So there is no reason to isolate yourself from your cat or ferret during this pandemic.  (Update 5/7/20 - there are a couple dogs who have also tested positive for Covid-19 and displayed mild respiratory signs. So far the dogs do not seem to be contagious to other dogs, nor are they able to spread it back to a person.)

If you are well, continue to interact with your pets just as you normally would, practicing good hygiene and handwashing. 

If you are ill with Covid-19, it is prudent to ask another person to take over care of your pet. This is mostly because your pet can act as a vector to carry the virus to another person. If you have a service animal or are the sole caretaker, avoid kissing or hugging your pet while you are ill. Wash your hands before and after feeding or interacting with your pet and wear a facemask to limit the spread of virus particles when you cough. 

More information can be found at these sites:

Covid-19 FAQs for pet owners from the AVMA

For human health:
The State of Ohio's coronavirus page

The Center for Disease Control Covid-19 page