COVID-19 and Dogs – What you need to know

Dog owners (and everyone else) have many concerns about Coronavirus COVID-19 – but can my dog get coronavirus?

Lots of us are asking – can dogs get the Coronavirus? In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 novel coronavirus a global pandemic. As many were concerned over the spread of the virus, people also worried about the health of their dogs, cats, and other pets, and whether they could contract COVID-19 from their pets.

We’ve even seen dogs wearing face masks popping up in photos across Facebook and Instagram, causing pet owners everywhere to ask: can my dog get coronavirus COVID-19?

Can my dog get coronavirus COVID-19?

While it’s true, dogs can contract certain coronaviruses, like the canine respiratory coronavirus, like kennel cough, this specific novel coronavirus, aka COVID-19, is believed to not be a health threat to dogs. Cases have cropped up around the world for a few dogs, but whether these were confirmed cases is not certain, and though testing may have indicated positives, the animals don’t appear to have any negative effects.

The World Health Organization has stated, “There is not any evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19. COVID-19 is primarily spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To guard yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.”

Is it safe to pet my dog during this pandemic?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, petting a dog’s fur may be a low risk. The AVMA’s Chief Veterinary Officer Gail Golab says, “We’re not overly concerned about people contracting COVID-19 through contact with dogs and cats.” And there’s science behind that: “The virus survives best on smooth and hard surfaces, like countertops and doorknobs,” Golab says. “Porous materials, like pet fur, tend to soak up and trap pathogens, making it harder to contract them through touch.”

Dogs in Hong Kong test positive for coronavirus

Panic began among pet owners overseas when a 17-year-old Pomeranian in China tested “weakly” positive for the coronavirus during quarantine, then died three days after returning home. A second dog that lived within the same house, however, consistently tested negative during the quarantine.  Overnight the web exploded concernedly from worried pet owners. That was a weak positive within the dog. We don’t even know if that was a true positive,” Williams said, remarking that the Pomeranian also tested negative on several occasions. “The Pomeranian was never sick with the illness, and it had been released from quarantine then died,” said Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer for the North American Veterinary Community, which provides continuing education for veterinary professionals.

“We don’t know what the dog died of because they didn’t do an autopsy, but this dog was extremely elderly and had multiple underlying health conditions,” Varble said.  Later, Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced another dog in quarantine, a German Shepherd, had tested positive for Covid-19. However, a mixed breed dog from another home tested negative, and neither it nor the German Shepherd has shown any signs of disease, a spokesperson for the department said.  In addition, “there is currently no evidence that pets are often a source of Covid-19 for humans or that this virus can cause the disease in dogs,” the spokesperson said.  To put this into perspective, Varble points to a recent test of thousands of household pets for Covid-19 by a veterinary diagnostic company.  “They tested thousands of dogs and cats for this virus and located no positive leads to pets, so we believe that the likelihood of dogs or cats contracting this is often extremely low at this point ,” Varble said.  So apparently yes, a dog can get coronavirus, though they’re not likely to be affected by it.

But is there a scenario where we’d contract the virus from a pet — say its fur?  “In theory, if a patient with a virus in their nose rubbed their nose and got some of the virus on their hand then petted their dog,” Williams said, “and then another loved one petted that dog within the very same place then rubbed their nose, maybe they might transmit it.  “But if you’re living with an individual who has the virus, the danger factor is that human, not the pets,” he added.

Can dogs spread the coronavirus?

Li Lanjuan, an epidemiologist and representative of China’s National Health Commission cautioned pet owners in China to be vigilant about their own health and therefore the health of their pets: “If pets leave and have contact with an infected person, they do have some chance of infection, so then pets should be isolated, and people should be mindful of other pets in the home as well.”

The Centers for Disease Control  (CDC) says that “while this virus seems to have emerged from an animal source, it primarily spreads person-to-person.” The CDC recommends that folks traveling to China avoid animals both live and dead, “but there’s no reason to think that any animals or pets within the US could be a source of infection with this novel coronavirus.”

Two dogs in Hong Kong whose owners tested positive for COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus in what health officials characterize as “likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission.” government health officials emphasize that “there is currently no evidence that pet animals are often a source of infection of COVID-19 or that they become sick.”

Is it okay to walk my dog during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Exercise is extremely important for dogs and owners and it keeps us all from getting depressed or “cabin fever”, so yes, get out there and exercise!

Owners should wash their hands thoroughly for a minimum of 20 seconds before and after each walk. Mama told us to wash, it works! You might also consider carrying around a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer during your walks.  To reduce the spread of all germs, you may consider wiping your pet’s paws when they come in and out of the house with a paw cleaner and paw wipes. Practice social distancing measures by walking your dog in uncrowded areas when possible.  If you reside in a big city, make efforts to keep your dog in less traveled, more open areas, or try adjusting walks to less busy times of day and night.

The Bottom Line?

Healthy pet owners within the U.S. should simply follow basic hygienic precautions like washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after contact with any animal, including dogs and cats. If you test positive for COVID-19 or are exposed to the novel coronavirus, experts recommend that you should “restrict contact with you’re animals — both to avoid exposing the pets and to stop getting the virus on their skin or fur, which could be passed on to a different one that touches the animal.”  Dogs don’t need a mask to guard themselves against the novel coronavirus COVID-19.  If you’re concerned or notice a change in your dog’s health, speak with your veterinarian.  And please, never abandon any dogs, cats, or other pets due to COVID-19 fears.  There are many resources out there to help with their care if you’re concerned.

The human-animal bond is extremely important for animal health and with so many of us working from home, this can be an excellent time to take a break and spend some quality time together with family and with your pets.

More resources from the American Kennel Club.