COVD-19 and pets

At the beginning of 2020, we hadn’t known the word COVID-19 would become a regular part of our vernacular, but here we are.  In the digital age that we are a part of, there is an overwhelming amount of information about every single topic imaginable, and it is up to us to sift through it to make some sort of sense of the situation.

In the animal welfare field, we rely heavily on organizations like the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) to provide clear and concise guidelines and direction.  We wanted to share what we know from these groups about how COVID-19 is impacting pets.

In the United States, there is no evidence to suggest that any animals, including pets, livestock, or wildlife, might be a source of COVID-19 infection at this time. 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.

• Wash your hands after handling animals, their food, waste, or supplies.
• Practice good pet hygiene and clean up after pets properly.
• Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions about your pet’s health.

To date, there is no evidence that pets can spread the virus to other animals or people. CDC is working with human and animal health partners to monitor this situation and will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19.

For more information, visit CDC’s Healthy Pets, Healthy People website.