How will SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) affect our pets?

In the past authorities have categorically stated that there is no evidence that domestic companion animals such as dogs and cats can become ill or infectious due to exposure to this form of Coronavirus, however as time passes this is proving to be incorrect.

There have been early cases of domestic dogs testing positive as carrying the virus which were initially ignored, followed by a case of big cats (Tiger and Lions) at a zoo testing positive and displaying respiratory symptoms. This was also initially played down.
Some research has shown that cats can be infected and can pass on the infection to other cats. In this instance there is 'evidence'.
There has been a recent case of a cat being infected here in the UK.
Very little is known about the transference of Covid-19 from humans to animals and Vice Versa.
The statement that there is 'no evidence' needs to be viewed in the perspective that there has been very little research into this aspect of the spread of the virus and 'evidence' is only arrived at by formal and methodical research.
As a consequence any statement of 'no evidence' should be understood as another way of saying 'we just don't know'.

Not so long ago, in the Netherlands, cases of Covid 19 were found in Mink at fur farms. Respiratory symptoms were common and there were fatalities. This was well known locally and some residents demanded the Mink be culled.
Due to a subsequent high incidence of Covid 19 in owners and workers at the farms additional testing revealed a high number of Mink were infected and mass culling have been carried out.
Large numbers of Mink kept in cramped conditions is thought to be the reason for such a high incidence of infection.
As dogs are also known to be susceptible it is equally possible that puppy farm bred dogs or imported dogs would carry the same risk. There is 'no evidence' of this because there have been no methodical studies so 'we just don't know'.

The World Organisation for Animal Health is publishing information in the form of answers to questions about animals and coronavirus which can be read here.

It is also possible that any animal exposed to the virus may be able to carry it on their body or in their respiratory track for a limited period of time. At this time the limited period is thought to be 72 hours.

It should be stressed that humans are the main vectors for the spread of Covid-19 and the pandemic is driven by human to human contact or proximity. There should be no danger of contracting the disease from an animal if you follow good hygiene and contact precautions and use your common sense and a certain amount of restraint when handling them.
It is thought, in most cases, animals are catching the virus from humans but in some cases it appears some species can pass it back.

The following advice to dog owners has been issued by DEFRA for people self isolating or infected with Covid-19.

Advice if you have symptoms of coronavirus and must remain at home for 7 days, 10 days or 14 days as a household

If your dog cannot exercise at home, you should ask someone outside of your household to walk your dog for you.
All non-essential trips to vets should be avoided. If your pet needs urgent treatment, you must phone the vet to arrange the best approach to meet your pets’ needs.

More advice from DEFRA can be found here.

 

Advice if you do not have symptoms of coronavirus and are not required to isolate.

It is important that you prevent your dog from contact with other dogs and potentially infected surfaces and while outside of your home you and your dogs should remain at least 1 metre away from anyone, or any dog, you meet.
Unless you are in a private enclosure where no-one else goes it is best to keep your dog on it's lead at all times. Make sure you pick up after it.

All non-essential trips to vets should be avoided. Most vets are still only dealing with serious cases or working by appointment.
If your pet needs urgent treatment, you may take them, but must remember to wash your hands and remain 2 metres away from anyone outside your household.
You must call the vet before going to see them and follow their instructions on how to proceed.

Advice for those walking dogs on behalf of someone unable to do it themselves.

You may be helping to care for a vulnerable person or someone who is self isolating or still voluntarily shielding.
If this includes walking a dog for someone who is unable to leave their house you should remember to wear a face covering, wash your hands before and after handling the dog and keep 2 metres away from other people and animals, including when taking and handing the dog back to it's owner. (the 2 metre distance is an additional precaution due to the vulnerability of the person for whom you are walking the dog)
If you do this on a regular basis bring your own collar and lead and put it on and take it off the dog outside of the house.
Disinfect it when you take it home.

If you are using the dogs own collar and lead, disinfect them before handing them back to the vulnerable person.
Your responsibility is greater than it would be if you were walking your own dog as it is someone else's life that would be at risk if you were careless.

The following general advice is also suggested -

If you need to look after a dog known to have been exposed to the virus because it's owner has been admitted to hospital;

Quarantine the dog for 72hrs, preferably in its own home.
During this time, walk the dog as often as possible and let it into the garden of the property as many times a day as possible and ensure it has access to water at all times. Feed according to food manufacturers instructions.  You may need to restrict the dog to one room. This would best be a kitchen or utility room where you can put its bed, water bowl and any toys.
Spend as much time with the dog as you can spare. Dogs are social beings and need company.
We would suggest you wear a protective suit or old clothing over your normal clothes, a mask or handkerchief over your mouth and nose and disposable gloves when in the house and handling the dog and do not touch any surfaces in the house or the dogs lead, bowls or other items without having previously disinfected them* while still wearing protective items of clothing.
Keep a bin bag by the door you are using and dispose of any single use protective items on the way out. Take off and leave old clothing at the door to put on next time you enter.
When you get back home wash your hands and any exposed skin according to government instructions and make sure you do not touch your face until you have completed this task.

After the 72 hours is up, in theory, any virus contaminating surfaces on the premises should have died off - but don't take that for granted. Put on fresh protective clothing and in particular disposable gloves.
Take the dog outside and shampoo it thoroughly (twice), rinsing copiously between and after shampooing, then towel dry.
Disinfect any item you intend to take home that the dog has been in contact with using an anti viral agent.
This includes, but is not restricted to, bowls, toys, collar and lead.*

If you used old clothing, bin bag all of it and take it home, empty the bag into a washing machine without touching the clothing and wash at 90 degrees with biological detergent along with the towel used to dry the dog. Dispose of the bin bag.
Put any disposable protective clothing etc. in a bin bag, keeping gloves on until last and incinerate if possible.
You may want to incinerate the old cloths instead of washing them. If you cannot, or do not wish to, incinerate any items you need to dispose of you should double bag them and seek advice from your local authority about collection and disposal.
Wash your hands and any skin that was exposed during the above process with soap and warm water making sure that you do not touch your face until you have finished washing.
The dog and disinfected equipment should now be safe to handle and you can take the dog in and look after it at home.

If you think you may have been exposed to the virus by contact with a dog that could potentially be contaminated by the virus:

Make sure you remove and wash any outer clothing and any exposed skin. Do not touch your face until you have done this.
If your own dog has also made contact, before removing and washing your outer protective clothing, put on disposable gloves, shampoo your dog thoroughly (twice), rinsing copiously between and after shampooing, then towel dry.
Disinfect or dispose of the dogs collar and lead.*
Remove and wash your outer clothing and any exposed skin. Do not touch your face until you have done this.

It is recommended that any dog that is known to have come into direct contact with a person infected by Coronavirus is quarantined for 72 hours.

Coronavirus cannot be contracted through the skin but may be picked up from infected surfaces by exposed skin. If you think you may have come into contact with a contaminated surface it is important that you do not touch your face until you have thoroughly washed your hands and the exposed skin, following NHS approved methods for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm water.

If you take your dog outside of your property or own garden, when you get back you should consider the following precautions:

Follow the advice on how to shampoo the dog as given above, but before doing so it is suggested that you -

Minimise your contact with the dog. Wear disposable gloves and a face mask of some sort when in contact.
Avoid allowing the dog to lick you.
Shampoo as described above. Disinfect the dogs collar and lead. Wash the clothing you are wearing.
Wash your hands after touching the dog or any items it has been in contact with. Do not touch your face until you have done this.

Bear in mind that it is possible to infect yourself or your dog if either of you come into contact with any item that has been infected by the virus. An infected person may touch gate handles or other things you or your dog may also touch. Carry poo bags. If you need to touch a gate or handle use a poo bag over your hand. This virus is very contagious.

Inconvenient - yes,  but people die from Covid-19.  If you catch it you may not die but may pass it on to someone who does.........

Welfare of companion animals under current conditions -

If you think your pet is ill, contact your vet immediately but do not just turn up at the surgery.
Most vets are now taking normal precautions to minimise contact with people and each practice has it's own ways of doing this.
Look on their website or phone them and follow their directions. You can expect to be asked to stay in your car on arrival and phone them to say you are there. They will call you in when your turn comes or come outside to meet you.
Under these circumstances a vet is unlikely to make a house call.
 

* Something to bear in mind -

Covid-19 is caused by a virus - SARS-CoV-2.
Coronavirus will not be eliminated by anti bacterial agents so simple disinfection by an anti bacterial cleaner, spray or wipe will not kill it.
Look for products that state they can kill bacteria AND viruses.
Alcohol based products (60% for hand sanitising or 70% for surface cleaning) are effective but will dry the skin so moisturise afterwards.
Other agents are bleach (dilution level depends on strength) or Hydrogen Peroxide (between 0.5% and 3% solution) but neither of these agents should be used on the skin, human body or an animal.
Most effective is vigorous cleaning with soap and water to degrease the skin and wash away any contaminates but it is important to moisturise regularly.

Border Collie Rescue uses a disinfectant called Virkon-S. We have used this product during and since the 2001 Foot and Mouth epidemic.
It is a powerful anti viral and anti bacterial agent and is approved for the elimination of Corona Virus strains.
We use it in it's standard 1% solution to wash and disinfect dogs suspected of carrying a viral or bacterial infection and for standard washing of exposed equipment - we disinfected over 200 dogs using Virkon during Foot and Mouth.
We are very careful it does not get into a dogs eyes, nose or mouth that it is thoroughly rinsed off after 3 minutes by two separate soakings of clean water and we only use it on dogs once in every 14 days and then only if appropriate.
None of the dogs we have used it on have shown any adverse or allergic reactions.

During Foot and Mouth the people administering the washes often had some skin exposed to this disinfectant several times in 24 hours. Regular exposure like this did make the skin sore and dry but we felt no adverse reactions after one use.
We are not advocating the use of this product in this way and the manufacturers do not advocate the use of this product in this way.
Here, we are speaking only of our own experiences of its use.
Over the 10 months of Foot and Mouth we had no cases of transmitting the disease even though the majority of dogs we took in were from virally infected farms.
We can advocate the use of this product on any equipment suspected of being infected. Soak in a 1% solution for three minutes and rinse off.