March 18th, 2020 by Chris Chapman

Protecting Yourself and Your Pets

Like many dog owners, you may have been concerned by the reports that a dog in Hong Kong had tested positive for COVID-19. These reports were made even worse with the news that the dog sadly passed away shortly after its release from quarantine. So, should you be worried about your dog and what measures can you take to protect them?

Can Coronavirus Transmit to Animals?

COVID-19 – the current strain of coronavirus that’s spreading across the world – is believed to have originated in animals. It most closely resembles strains found in bats and pangolins, and these animals are likely the ones that first spread a different form of the virus to humans before it mutated and began spreading from person-to-person. Some diseases can transmit between humans and animals, so it’s reasonable to be worried that COVID-19 can, too.

While you may be worried, the World Organisation for Animal Health states that there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be directly spread by dogs (or any other household pets) at this stage. This also means there isn’t any risk that you can make your dog sick.

The Hong Kong Pomeranian

In late February, a 17-year-old Pomeranian was placed into quarantine after its owner was hospitalised due to COVID-19. The dog didn’t exhibit any symptoms of the virus, but it did test positive for it. It was tested again two weeks later and the results were negative. It’s unclear whether the dog was genuinely infected or whether it was simply carrying virus cells that it picked up from contact with a contaminated surface.

As the Pomeranian tested negative for the virus and never displayed any signs that it was unwell, it was released from quarantine and returned to its owner. Sadly, the dog is reported to have died two days later, but this isn’t being attributed to coronavirus.

I’m Self-Isolating. Is My Dog at Risk?

COVID-19 transmission appears to be entirely person-to-person. This means you aren’t a risk to your dog if you’re self-isolating. The Hong Kong case remains the only case of an animal testing positive for the virus. Even then, the dog didn’t show any symptoms of infections and wasn’t ill. Given how the virus has spread across the world, it’s reasonably clear that animals are not at direct risk from infected people.

The only risk may be if you need to take your dog to the vet for an unrelated reason while being told to self-isolate. Depending on what you need, you may be able to get a friend or family member to pick up some medicine from the vet. If this isn’t possible, ring your vet and see what they can do.

Can I Take My Dog on Walks If I’m Self-Isolating?

No. Self-isolating means you shouldn’t leave your home for any reason. If you have a garden, let your dog out there regularly so it can go to the toilet and play. If possible, arrange for a friend or a professional dog-walker to come and walk your dog, too. Make sure you let them know you’re self-isolating beforehand, though, so they can take precautions. If you need pet food, get someone else to bring it for you or order it online, but please don’t stockpile it – many other dogs will be in the same situation and will need to eat, too.

You should take lots of time to play with your dog while you self-isolate. If they’re not able to go outside as much, they’ll likely get bored and will need to burn off their energy somehow.

What Can I Do To Help Prevent the Spread?

COVID-19 is mainly transmitted from person-to-person by respiratory droplets – tiny particles that are dispersed through the air when you cough or sneeze, or even (in smaller numbers) when you breathe. It can’t be directly transmitted by dogs; however, the Pomeranian case does show that dogs can pick up the virus by licking a contaminated surface and pass it on to you. The virus can survive for up to 2-3 days on some surfaces, which means it’s important to monitor what your dog comes into contact with now more than ever.

You should keep an eye on where your dog goes, especially when out on walks. Take extra care to keep them away from discarded food wrappers on the street and make sure to wash your hands before and after the walk. It’s also worth taking some hand sanitiser out with you, just in case.

As hard as it might sound, try and discourage your dog from licking your face if possible. This means that in the unlikely event they do pick up the virus, they won’t pass it on to you.