Can Pets Get the 2019 Coronavirus?
Update: 12/28/2020
We now know there are cases of cats and dogs catching Covid-19 from people but the numbers reported are still low. Keep in mind that they can catch it from us but they don’t appear to be able to pass it to us. This is not well studied yet but there is little if any evidence to suggest pets can pass it to humans. Therefore, people should be aware they do not need to worry about getting infected from their cats, think they should get rid of pets or otherwise abandon them. In fact, we are the ones who can infect them and should take greater care to ensure their safety. There are a few other species of animals who have contracted Covid-19 as well such as racoons, mink and rabbits.
Update: 2/29/2020
While we believe pets will NOT get the 2019 Coronavirus, there is one report in Hong Kong of a dog testing “mildly positive” for it. That may be simply because of the virus being in the air so it was found in the dog’s nose and mouth. It was not found in the dog’s system. The dog may not get sick and is likely NOT infected. The dog is currently quarantined and being tested. This post will be updated when results of the quarantine are known.
The current strain of COVID-19 Coronavirus should not be very apt to transfer from humans to pets due to the type of virus so it is unlikely that transmission between pets and humans is a concern. Do not change how you care for your pets. There should be no cause for concern.
Original Post 2/7/2020:
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus which originated in Wuhan China cannot be spread to cats, dogs or other pets. This strain of coronavirus can only be transmitted between people. There are many strains of coronavirus however and some of those strains infect pets on a regular basis. Following is information on the other strains of coronavirus that affect pets regularly and some home remedies for treating them.
If you want tips on super anti-viral supplements to protect yourself from the new coronavirus and other illnesses like influenza, please check out Supplements for Coronavirus Protection on our sister site https://nutrientcures.com.
What Strains Of Coronavirus Can Infect Pets?
Some coronavirus strains can cause mild infections in pets but some can cause more serious problems like Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). The new coronavirus that came out of China in December of 2019 called the Novel Coronavirus is not a danger to pets at this time.
Coronaviruses in Cats
Most coronavirus infections in cats only produce mild symptoms such as watering eyes and running nose.
Feline coronavirus cannot be passed to people.
On rare occasions (about 5%-10% of cases) a coronavirus in cats can turn into Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) which is usually deadly since it destroys white blood cells. It is caused by a mutation in the coronavirus or a reaction by the immune system.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Symptoms can include:
Sneezing,
Running nose,
Watering eyes,
Coughing,
Diarrhea,
Loss of appetite,
Weight loss,
Difficulty breathing,
Jaundiced eyes,
Ulcers in eyes,
Conjunctivitis/Feline Pinkeye (redness, swelling and discharge from eyes).
Fever
This is not a complete list of potential FIP symptoms.
How Do You Know if a Cat has FIP, Conjunctivitis or an Upper Respiratory Infection?
Conjunctivitis is a painful condition that can be caused by a foreign body in the eye, a bacterial or viral infection or an auto-immune condition. A cat with conjunctivitis should be checked out by a vet.
Feline Upper Respiratory Infections are extremely common and are usually caused by the feline herpesvirus (FV1) or the feline calicivirus (FCV).
Feline Upper Respiratory Infections can include the following symptoms:
Sneezing,
Running nose,
Discharge from eyes,
Squinting of eyes,
Conjunctivitis,
Wheezing,
Coughing,
Lethargy,
Loss of appetite,
Excessive salivation,
Pneumonia can develop
Cats who are infected may become carriers of a virus for the rest of their lives. They may not have any symptoms or symptoms may appear periodically. Symptoms are usually brought on during illness or stress. Moving, travel, bringing new pets or people into the home or other disturbances may bring on symptoms.
Cats may need topical treatments for the eyes and antibiotics if a secondary bacterial infection emerges. If your cat is seriously ill always take them to a veterinarian for treatment. The same symptoms could indicate a number of other more serious conditions such as feline leukemia, though this is rare.
A vet check is always the best course of action but some cats would be in and out of the vet every few weeks for mild upper respiratory symptoms. If a dog or cat has a mild upper respiratory infection they can be helped at home with this recipe using common a common ingredient you likely have in your home already. How to Treat An Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats.
There are vaccines to prevent upper respiratory infection if a cat has not been exposed to the viruses that cause it already.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a serious condition that may be caused by a mutated coronavirus with symptoms including those listed above and range from sneezing and runny nose to conjunctivitis, loss of appetite, diarrhea and fever. If your cat has serious symptoms please see a vet. FIP is rare but often deadly.
Coronaviruses in Dogs
Canine coronavirus (CCV) is found all over the world in both domestic and wild dogs and can infect any breed of dog. It is very contagious and causes intestinal problems but is generally mild unless it affects young puppies or is found along with another virus such as canine parvovirus.
Canine coronavirus may have no symptoms at all or include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
CCV is caught from other infected dogs and may remain in a dog’s system for up to 6 months after infection.
The symptoms of canine coronavirus can be similar to parvovirus, distemper, parasites and other conditions so take your dog to the vet for a check up and possibly testing.
There is a vaccine against canine coronavirus but it is usually included in vaccines for other conditions such as distemper or parvovirus.
Canine coronavirus is highly contagious among dogs so clean affected areas with diluted bleach to kill it.
How Can You Treat a Pet With Coronavirus?
You may not know if your dog or cat has coronavirus if they have mild symptoms. If they are sick with mild symptoms or the vet has checked them out already, you can try the following home treatments.
Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM recommends the following home remedies for coronavirus in his weekly newsletter:
- Honey (that is local and unpasteurized if possible). Dr. Jones recommends 1/2 tsp per 10 lbs of body weight twice per day.
- Juice from Elderberry. He recommends 1/2 a tsp per 10 lbs of body weight twice per day.
- Licorice Root Tincture. He recommends 1/2 mL which is 1/2 of a tincture bottle dropper per 20 lbs of body weight twice per day.
Make sure your dog or cat with coronavirus does not become dehydrated.
In dogs the canine coronavirus is mostly an intestinal condition and can cause dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting. If necessary you can use a plastic syringe to get some liquids in a puppy or dog who isn’t drinking.
In cats, dehydration is always dangerous since cats (especially neutered males) are very susceptible to UTIs and blockages that can quickly turn deadly.
Get your cat to drink water in any way you can. Keep bowls clean! Cats like cleanliness. I change my cat’s water every day and also wipe out the water bowls as slime can build up quickly. Some cats prefer a drinking fountain, or a glass or ceramic bowl over plastic. How Can I Get My Cat to Drink More Water?
Keep Your Pet Warm, Comfortable and Stress Free
Pets are sensitive to stress. This is especially true of cats. A stressed cat often becomes a sick cat as the viruses the cause feline upper respiratory and other infections can activate when a cat is stressed and their immune system weakened. Help your pet get better by keeping them stress free. No loud noises, don’t scare them, yell or make them feel unsafe or unsure.
Try to Get Your Pet To Eat
They may not feel hungry. A cat with an upper respiratory infection or coronavirus may not eat because they can’t smell. Try to tempt your cat with a smelly treat.
Use Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar on Fur
This may sound strange but it works. Check out the details and recipe here. Apple Cider Vinegar For Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats and Dogs.
Apple cider vinegar is naturally antibacterial and antiviral and helps a pet’s immune system. It can be diluted with water and used to treat ear infections and skin infections in dogs and cats as well as for fighting viruses.
How Can I Protect Myself From Coronavirus?
You can protect yourself from coronavirus by washing your hands frequently and not touching your face when out in public. The coronavirus can be spread through your eyes, nose or mouth.
You can also check out these amazing anti-viral supplements which have been clinically tested to kill many viruses including SARS which is another strain of coronavirus as well as drug resistant staph infections like MRSA and hundreds of other viruses and bacteria. Supplements for Coronavirus Protection.
I take some of these supplements everyday to prevent colds and flus so I was thrilled they can protect against more dangerous viruses as well.
Note: I am not a veterinarian. Please see a veterinarian if your pet is sick to rule out serious illness.
Jessica
https://thrivingcat.com
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Thank you!!
That is a very interesting subject. I never thought of my Snow Snow and Shiro getting the Corona Virus! Oh my gosh I am glad that I found your post. I know for that fact that NYC, there is no case has been found yet but you never know. Those feral cats can be carrying it or even human. I will look out for the sign and be on top of it. Thank you so much Jessica. I will follow all the precautions.
Cheers!
Hello,
Please understand dogs and cats cannot get the new coronavirus. There are other forms of coronavirus that they can get but those are not the same as the the one people are getting now.
Jessica
I thought this virus was highly passed through animals and humans. It’s good to know, based on your article, that the chances are actually low. I have two dogs and two cats. One of the cats it’s currently pregnant and I was wondering, do you think it’s better to take her to the vet without any symptoms just to make sure or is that not necessary?
The current mutated strain of coronavirus that came from China cannot be passed to pets. It can only pass between people. It would have to mutate again in order to be able to pass to animals. Now, I won’t guarantee this 100% since I don’t know if what I read is always true, but this is what official government sources are telling us.
There would be no point getting her checked for this coronavirus since I am sure vets couldn’t even test for it. Special testing kits are required and only certain medical facilities for people even have those now.
As long as she has no symptoms I would not be worried. If she does have mild symptoms it is most likely she would have an upper respiratory infection or another mild form of coronavirus. Of course if she is sick I would take her to the vet.
Thank you for your questions and thoughts here,
Jessica
Amazing…I had no idea that dogs and cats were able to contract some form of coronavirus! Thank you for this post as the list of symptoms is really helpful. I work in a school and you can bet I have been washing my hands a great deal this winter to avoid things like the flu and any possible coronavirus (though thankfully I haven’t heard of any infections in our area). I am really hoping that health authorities can get it under control soon. Thanks again for the post!
Thanks Steve,
I agree. It is nice to know the 2019 Novel Coronavirus cannot affect our pets at least. One less thing to worry about!
Jessica
Much obliged to you for sharing such an incredible article with us. I never thought of my pets affected by the Corona Virus! Oh my God, I am glad that I found your post. I love my pets very much. I will pay special mind to the sign and be over it. I will follow all the precautions. I will share your article with my friends so that my friends will benefit from reading your article. Much obliged to you so much Jessica.
This was a ery timely post that my best friend needs to and will read. She has two cats and four dogs. We were just having a discussion about this the other night because she was worried about whether her pets could catch the Novel Coronavirus. I told her that coronavirus is very common in BOTH pets and people and cannot be transmitted between the two.
One of the many problems with society nowadays is that people live in fear and are not educated in those things that they fear. When this new 2019 coronavirus came out people were scared but didn’t take the time to realize that there EVERY person alive except toddlers, has been infected with some strain of coronavirus in there lifetime at least once at most a few times.
This information is easily available on the websites of the CDC, NIH and PubMed to name a few. People hear scare stories of mass infections and hundreds of deaths but quickly forget that the seasonal flu virus infects millions more people and hundreds of thousands die because of it. Fearing coronavirus and not fearing the influenza virus makes absolutely no sense.
You post here should be another fine example of knowledgeable information for pet owners living with fear of the unknown when it comes to both feline and canine infections of the coronavirus. My friend will be happy to read your recommendations for treating the infection in pets and also to recognize the symptoms. I am going to share this with her. Thank you!
Hello Robert,
Unfortunately, people seem to latch onto a word and don’t take the time to look up the facts. That is why dogs and cats are in danger right now as people somehow get the idea pets could catch the 2019 Novel coronavirus and pass it to people. I am afraid people will be dumping any sick pet out of fear and misunderstanding or freak out if their pet has any symptoms and assume the worst. Unfortunately, there are people spreading this misinformation since there are other coronavruses that are common in cats and dogs.
I hope to combat this misinformation, help alleviate people’s fears and help pets.
The 2019 Novel coronavirus has a much higher death rate than the flu. In the U.S. the flu is still a much greater risk however due to the number of people infected. Hopefully we can keep the new coronavirus contained.
In the meantime we need real information and not myths and assumptions.
Thank you,
I am so glad this post was useful for you and your friend. I am sure she will be glad (as I was) to learn her pets are not at risk from the new coronavirus.
Jessica
It’s something to be happy about knowing that the 2019 coronal virus does not affect cats, dogs and other pets. Although there are many other strains of coronal virus that affects our pets, I’m happy that these other strains of coronal virus can be detected in pets via those symptoms and can be treated using home remedies just as you have mentioned. Thanks for sharing the tips with which we can protect ourselves from coronal virus.
This was a fascinating post, I didn’t consider whether animals would be at risk of this disease. Obviously animals get colds and flu’s and most of these come under the coroner virus umbrella. I’m also very grateful that you included a link to suppliments that can help to protect against many infections and other things. I’m very happ I read this post, it was very detailed and beneficial.
Justin.
Thank you Justin. I am glad you found this information useful.
Jessica
I’m glad I came across this article. I don’t have pets because my apartment complex doesn’t allow it but I’ve always wanted to get a cat and a dog and to learn all this information has really helped me for the future. You never know, our pets are very important in our lives therefore this type of information is useful. Thanks!
Hello Sheila,
I am very glad you found this useful and hope you are able to get pets soon.
Jessica
This is the first I had thought about the coronavirus being able to infect pets, thankfully it is not the one that is going through Wuhan at the moment. Although it appears that there have been many different coronaviruses around for some time, why is it just now making the news? I do appreciate the tips though for my pets in case they catch a strain that is contagious to them, I will keep elderberry juice around, we already have honey in the pantry. Hope everybody stays safe out there!
Hello Travis,
This is not the first time a coronavirus has been in the news. SARS is another strain of coronavirus that caused widespread panic in 2003 when an outbreak occurred in China. Most coronaviruses are not very dangerous however and only produce symptoms like a common cold. SARS and the new 2019 Novel Coronavirus are mutated forms that are much more dangerous.
Luckily, we don’t have to worry about this new coronavirus infecting our pets.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
Hello Jessica, I thought this virus was highly passed through animals and humans. It’s good to know, based on your article, that the chances are actually low. I’ve always wanted to get a cat and a dog and to learn all this information has really helped me for the future. You never know, our pets are very important in our lives therefore this type of information is useful. Thank you so much Jessica. I will follow all the precautions.
Thank you Lalita. I was also surprised to learn pets can’t get this strain of coronavirus since all the news stories talked about it coming from animals. I was relieved to find out pets cannot get this however. It was useful to learn about the other strains of coronavirus they can get.
I am glad you found this useful.
Jessica
Coronavirus has been around for a very long time and it caused many fatalities in our feline companion when they get infected with FIP. It’s not an easy disease to detect (asymptomatic cats do carry coronavirus in their body) and to treat when they get pleural effusion or ascites. At the vet clinic where I work, we are currently treating a suspected FIP in a 3 months old kitty with pleural effusion and the result has been promising so far. I guess you have to intervene early when the symptom is still manageable.
It is great to get input from someone with experience in this Cathy. I am lucky none of my cats have had FIP. I hope to spread the word that pets getting the new COVID-19 coronavirus is very slim as people in some parts of the world are dumping or killing pets out of fear right now. People just see “coronavirus” and think they are all the same when in fact there are different strains and most do not/cannot pass between humans and pets.
Thank you,
Jessica
This is such an amazing topic. It hasn’t by anyway occurred to me my dogs can contact this deadly and contagious disease (CORONAVIRUS), I’m so happy right now gotten vital clues on this from your post. I pray so hard this disease should have a cure because it’s really destroying and taking lives.
Hello,
I am glad to be able to tell you that you should not have to worry about your dogs getting the 2019 coronavirus. I really think the dog in Hong Kong just had it in his nose from breathing it in (his owner was infected) but that he won’t actually get sick/infected. We will have to wait and see what the test results show.
Unfortunately, people in some parts of the world are dumping or killing pets out of unwarranted fear that they could carry the 2019 coronavirus. Hopefully people will learn that is not the case and will protect and care for their pets.
Thank you for your thoughts,
Jessica
Hello ! Jessica, thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful article .Your article is really very informative .Currently coronavirus is in serious shape all over the world and I have a dog and she is pregnant .My dog is currently healthy but through your article I have learned about some of the important symptoms of coronavirus. And I would definitely take my dog to the veterinarian if I saw any such symptoms, and I think the advice you need to keep my dog healthy is very important. Through your article I have acquired some wonderful knowledge that will be very helpful in keeping my dear friend healthy. Also, I will convey your article to those who observe dogs and cats to be aware of them .Your article is really interesting and I enjoyed reading it a lot and the link you provided is definitely important and helpful to me.
Lastly, I hope that by reading your article, everyone will gain a lot of important knowledge and will certainly share their new experiences with you .
Hello Shanta,
There are coronaviruses that often infect dogs but they are not the same as the coronavirus that is infecting humans now (COVID-19 coronavirus). We probably do not have to worry about our pets getting COVID-19 which is a huge relief!
Jessica
I enjoyed the article very much. It is the first time time first read a clear post about the fact that animals can be infected with a coronavirus but it is not the new COVID-19 coronavirus. Thanks so much for sharing this great post with us.
I’m very worried about my pet. My family didn’t want to keep him. Until now he is well. Your post helped me to know how I can treat a pet with coronavirus. I believe Dr. Andrew Jones, the home remedies that are suggested, will benefit our pets.
Sharing this post via social media, I think your post will make pet lovers aware. And they will benefit.
Tasmia,
Please understand the types of coronavirus that pets can get is NOT the same type that people are getting now. People need to understand this so they don’t fear their pets and stop taking care of them. This is very important! Canine coronavirus is only spread between dogs. Feline coronavirus is only spread between cats. The new COVID-19 coronavirus is only spread between people.
Hi there and thank you for the article.
wwould like to question your evidence that coronavirus cannot be spread from humans to animals, as it originated from animals? Apparently it crossed from Pangolins to humans, so even though there might not have been recorded cases of animals getting it in the house, I’d be surprised to see evidence that it can’t.
Eithe wway, I hope everyone’s pets are safe and healthy. I live the suggestion if the vinegar to wipe down your cats as it also reduces allergies. We add turmeric to milk, and it seems our cats are more likely to try that when they are sick.
Thanj aagain for your article.
This strain of the coronavirus can only pass between humans. I am not a scientist so I don’t have any evidence that it cannot spread to pets but from what I have read the COVID-19 coronavirus is currently a strain that can only pass from human to human. It has mutated to this form from an earlier form that passed from animal to human. It would have to mutate again in order to be passed back to animals from humans. That is what the experts claim but of course I have no way to prove that myself.
So far, they say it has remained stable and has not mutated any further at this time. Therefore, it should only be able to pass between people.
Hi, Jessica. Thanks for writing a timely article.Coronavirus in fact has accompanied a lot of alarm to the general total populace.I’m also worried about the Corona virus.Social media is spreading rumors that the Corona virus is spreading from pets.So I was neglecting my pet. Reading your article broke my mistake. After reading the article I found out that coronavirus spreads through humans, pets are not so dangerous And I learned from you that a test report in Hong Kong did not detect such a virus in dogs.From your article I learned of the symptoms of coronary virus Sneezing, Running nose, Watering eyes, Coughing, Diarrhea, Loss of appetite, Weight loss, Difficulty breathing, Jaundiced eyes, Ulcers in eyes, Conjunctivitis/Feline Pinkeye (redness, swelling and discharge from eyes) which I did not know before.I hope to be aware of this in the coming days as well.