Coronavirus

We're in a time in this epidemic where accurate information is in short supply, but theories are fly around.

I got two emails, one from AAHA (American Animal Hospital Assn) and one from the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Assn).

AAHA wrote:
Coronavirus update: Pets are safe . . . but wash your hands

Reports that a dog in Hong Kong repeatedly tested “weak positive” for the COVID-19 virus fueled worldwide concern that pets could indeed get the new superbug. While that concern appears to be groundless (at least so far), it does raise a question.

Why did the dog test positive, however weakly? One theory is that while the virus may have been present on the dog, the dog did not actually have the virus. Scientists know that coronaviruses can live on surfaces and objects, although not for how long.

So wash your hands.

That advice comes courtesy of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is doing its best to allay the fears of pet owners by stating on its website that, “At present, there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.”

AVMA wrote:
No, a cattle vaccine cannot prevent COVID-19

A Facebook post implying that a cattle vaccine can prevent infection with the novel coronavirus spreading among humans has been widely shared, but the vaccine prevents diarrhea in calves caused by bovine coronavirus, which is an entirely different pathogen from the one that causes COVID-19. "Under no circumstance should people vaccinate themselves with any animal vaccine," said veterinarian Jeremy Schefers of the University of Minnesota. "It's dangerous and likely won't work."

It appears that false and misleading information is rapidly spreading on the internet and on Facebook... (Read sarcasm!!!)

At this point, if I became infected, I'd keep my dogs with me in self quarantine but I'd have no fear that they would contract disease.

Doug, DVM