Photo Credit: Center for Disease Control

Courtney Balcombe

News Editor

clb6264@psu.edu

Coronavirus originally came from a bat that was consumed in China, now it can spread from humans to their household pets.

According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in April of 2020, two cats tested positive in New York as the first pets to contract COVID. On October 20th, 2020, the first cat in Pennsylvania tested positive for COVID.

As pets are now vulnerable to contract this virus, the Center for Disease Control, CDC, recommends pet owners limit their pet’s interaction with people outside of their household.

• Keep cats indoors when possible and do not let them roam freely outside.

• Walk dogs on a leash at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others.

• Avoid public places where a large number of people gather.

• Do not put a mask on pets. Masks could harm your pet.

The CDC has confirmed only a few pets have been infected with the virus. Some did not show any signs of illness, but those pets that were sick had a mild disease that was taken care of at home. None have died from the infection. The risk of animals spreading COVID to humans is low, even saying that pets can contract it from their owners.

“We are still learning about this virus, but it appears that it can spread from people to animals in some situations, especially after close contact with a person sick with COVID-19.”

The CDC recommends the following guidelines to care for pets with COVID-like symptoms or that test positive for the virus:

• Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.

• Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.

• Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals.

• Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.

An undisclosed source from the CDC stated, “In the United States, there is no evidence that animals are playing a significant role in the spread of COVID-19.  Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. However, because all animals can carry germs that can make people sick, it’s always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals.”

If an owner has COVID or symptoms, they should have another household member care for their animal and avoid contact with their pet. However, if they cannot do so, they should wear a face mask and wash their hands before interacting with pets.

For pets that may have contracted COVID, the CDC recommends isolating the pet from everyone else, including other pets. They should not be wiped or bathed with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products, such as hand sanitizer, counter-cleaning wipes, or other industrial or surface cleaners.

For more information, check the CDC website at

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/animals/pets-other-animals.html