According to the information from the World Organization for Animal Health, there is currently no data indicating that animals such as dogs and cats may become sick from COVID-19. It should be remembered that sometimes viruses can infect one species but cannot cause disease in that species or be transmitted to other species.
All of the following advice has been obtained from the World Organization for Animal Health and the Federal Institute for Food Safety and Veterinary in Switzerland: https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/de/home/das-blv/auftrag/one-health/coronavirus.html (since our veterinary institutions do not provide any advice on this condition).
- Make sure you have someone to care for your pet if you get sick. Buy food for at least 2 weeks for you and your pet.
- Out of caution, if you are infected with COVID-19, limit contact with animals, as you would with other people. If possible, have another family member take care of the animals during your confinement.
- If you live alone and have no one to care for you and your pet in the event of a COVID-19 infection, write a letter requesting that someone visit you from time to time to check if you need help and place them in the main entrance door.
- Avoid direct contact with animals, including petting, snuggling and kissing, and do not share food with animals.
- If you must have contact and care for animals while you are infected, wear gloves and masks during contact. Dogs from a quarantined family should only be kept in leashes and briefly brought into the fresh air so that they can meet their needs. Contact with other people and animals should be avoided anyway. Common hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing, should be used when interacting with animals. Dog or cat washing or disinfection is not required.
- If pets become ill during your quarantine / isolation and need veterinary assistance, the veterinarian should be clearly contacted and informed about quarantine / isolation at home.
- Pet masks are ineffective in preventing diseases transmitted by droplets. To protect the animal from diseases that cause respiratory problems, consult your veterinarian for the correct therapy. Bordetella and canine influenza, are the most common respiratory diseases that can be prevented by animal vaccines.
- If you know elderly people, or others who cannot get out because of health problems, we encourage you to visit them from time to time to make sure they have enough food, medication and supplies, including for their pets. Normally, while always being cautious about your own health.