With a tiger at the Bronx Zoo testing positive for COVID-19 in April, concerns have been raised that pets might be able to contract and transmit the disease.
Veterinarian Mark Verdino, who serves as vice president and chief of veterinary staff of the North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, said that while there are precautions owners and the general population have to take, the public should not be surprised by the news.
“What I don’t want people to do is start panicking when they hear reports like this because they are so infrequent,” Verdino said.
Owners who feel sick or fear they might have the virus should avoid direct contact with their pets to prevent transmission. This includes all pets like dogs, guinea pigs, and cats.
Before the tiger tested positive, there had been a few confirmed cases of domestic animals testing positive for COVID-19, including a Pomeranian and a German shepherd in Hong Kong, as well as a cat in Belgium.
The American Veterinary Medical Association later said that while it appears that dogs and cats are not readily infected with this new virus, being cautious is the best approach as too little is still known about how the virus evolves in other animals. The Bronx Zoo tiger is expected to recover, but experts are watching her closely for signs of complications.
While pets can get the virus from owners, it is currently unknown whether they can transmit it back to humans, Verdino said.
“It is very possible that the virus can get on your pet, in your pet’s nasal passages and then act as a transmitter,” Verdino said.
Verdino recommends that those who display symptoms should treat their pets the same way they approach other people.
“Keep a safe distance, wear masks around them, and avoid direct contact,” Verdino said. “If possible, you should arrange for other people to look after your pet while you deal with the disease. In order to prevent getting the virus from pets, avoid holding them close to your face, and wash your hands after you pet them. You should avoid petting stranger’s pets entirely until the details of how COVID19 is transmitted by animals become clearer.”
