By Dr. Sonnya Crawford

Grays Harbor Veterinary Services

Some stories are circulating about COVID-19 in pets. Here are the facts.

Currently, there is no evidence that pets can become ill with COVID-19. Infectious disease experts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Organization for Animal Health and the World Health Organization also indicate that there is no evidence to suggest that pet dogs or cats might be a source of infection with the virus, including spreading COVID-19 to people.

Idexx, a leading veterinary diagnostic company, has tested more than 3,500 canine, feline and horse samples, and none of the tests has been positive.

If you become ill with COVID-19, there are special precautions that you should take. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that you take the same common-sense approach when interacting with your pets or other animals in your home as you would with humans.

Although there have been no credible reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick who have the virus limit contact with their pets until more information is known about it. Have a healthy person in the family feed your pet. If you do not have another person in the household who can care for your pet, wash your hands before and after feeding, grooming or petting them.

Your pets cannot transmit the COVID-19 virus through respiratory secretions, but they may be able to act as a fomite. A fomite is an object or material that can carry infection on its surface, such as clothes, shoes or a countertop. Because your pet’s hair is porous and fibrous, it is highly unlikely that the virus could attach to their hair, but still possible.

It is unlikely that you would contract COVID-19 by petting or playing with your pet. Still, it’s a good idea to avoid kissing them and to wash your hands before and after interacting with them. Ensure that your pet is kept bathed and well groomed, regularly clean your pet’s food, water bowls, bedding and toys. Encourage your pet to practice social distancing, too: Don’t let people from outside your household pet your animals, and don’t allow your pets to interact with other non-household pets.

Dogs and cats do get coronaviruses, but they are not the same strains associated with the pandemic. The strains of coronavirus that dogs and cats typically get do not cause respiratory disease.

Canine coronavirus typically causes transient, non-fatal diarrhea in puppies. Feline coronavirus cases tend to be non-clinical. But, in a small percentage of cats, the infection progresses into feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIP). It isn’t clear whether the virus mutates or the cat’s immune response malfunctions; but in those rare cases, the interaction between the cat’s immune system and the virus causes FIP, which develops as an immune-mediated disease and is almost always fatal.

Sonnya Crawford, DVM, is a veterinarian at Grays Harbor Veterinary Services in Montesano. Her pets include two cats, numerous parrots, a giant bunny and saltwater fish. Her special interests are in avian medicine, veterinary dermatology and dentistry. Reach her at drsonnya@gmail.com.