COVID-19 and Pets: Can my Dog or Cat Get Coronavirus?
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When COVID-19 became such a big part of our lives, there were a lot of questions, many of which went unanswered.
Since then, scientists have studied and researched the virus. As days and weeks pass, we continue to get new answers to questions about protecting ourselves and our loved ones, including our pets.
Today we’ll answer the following questions about COVID-19 and pets:
- Can my cat or dog get COVID?
- What is the incubation period for COVID in pets?
- What are the symptoms of COVID in pets?
- Is COVID contagious in pets?
- Does COVID transfer between species?
- What to do if your pet tests positive for COVID-19
- How to prevent pets from contracting the COVID virus
Can my cat or dog get COVID?
Yes, cats and dogs can contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
According to the CDC, “A small number of pet cats and dogs have been reported to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 in several countries, including the United States.”
Most of the pets who have tested positive for COVID-19 lived with a human who also tested positive for the virus. That suggests pets can catch COVID from humans.
“Cats-including cheetahs, leopards, tigers and lions-are likely to be susceptible to the virus. So are ferrets. Dogs, bears, pigs, chickens and ducks are not.”
What is the incubation period for COVID in pets?
An incubation period is the time between exposure to the virus and the first appearance of symptoms. The average incubation period for COVID-19 in pets, like humans, is 5–6 days, but can range between 1 and 14 days.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19 in pets?
If your pet has COVID-19, he may have the following symptoms:
Like humans, symptoms can be mild to severe or completely absent altogether.
