It’s doable that pets with different signs might not have been seen by these medical doctors, whose focus was cardiology, Ferasin mentioned.
The examine was revealed Nov. 4 within the journal Veterinary Record. Subsequent stories in a number of European international locations have additionally discovered home pets testing constructive for the virus, Ferasin mentioned.
From the analysis, it seems that the virus handed from the people to the pets. There is no such thing as a proof that the virus handed from pets to people, he famous.
“It appears just like the virus can solely be handed from people to pets and that is in all probability an important message, to keep away from the type of a panic response in response to this publication,” Ferasin mentioned. “We do not need individuals to suppose that they might catch COVID from animals. It is in all probability extra possible the opposite manner round.”
Dr. Jose Arce, president of the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, reiterated the message that the instances appear to be spreading from people to animals.
“Whereas COVID is primarily a human illness, there are documented instances of COVID infections in animals,” Arce mentioned, noting that this contains wildlife in zoos, home pets, and the animals at mink farms.
Generally, the animals have very delicate illness, Arce mentioned. Like with people, those that are immunocompromised would possibly develop extra extreme signs.
Pet house owners can shield their furry buddies with the identical sorts of precautions that shield different people round them together with washing arms totally, particularly earlier than touching the pet, and carrying a masks.
Masks shouldn’t be placed on pets as a result of they don’t seem to be made to be protected for them, Arce mentioned.
If doable, somebody who has COVID-19 ought to attempt to keep away from contact with their pet if there may be one other one who can take care of the animal, Arce mentioned.
However, “should you’re constructive and also you wish to board your canine within the hospital, do not simply present up within the door. Name forward of time, so we will take the mandatory precautions,” Arce added.
A pet that travels forwards and backwards between part of the home the place somebody quarantining with COVID-19 resides and one other half the place there are people who find themselves not in poor health may carry the virus between the 2 teams on its coat, so Arce additionally cautioned towards having pets journey between in poor health and wholesome members of the family.
