If you are self-quarantining in an RV park, chances are you see a lot of other RVers walking by with their pets, almost always dogs. You might wonder if the coronavirus can spread from domestic animals to humans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), offers this explanation:
“We are still learning about this virus and how it spreads, but it appears it can spread from humans to animals in some situations. CDC is aware of a small number of pets, including cats and dogs, reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. Most of these animals had contact with a person with COVID-19. A tiger at a New York zoo has also tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.
“At this time, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on the limited data available, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person, typically through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking.
“People sick with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from other people and animals, including pets, during their illness until we know more about how this virus affects animals. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with pets.”
##RVT946
Early on people were abandoning pets at shelters for fear their pet would give them the virus. This has terribly affected the pets and the shelters. Please dissuade anyone you know from abandoning a pet over this. It’s NOT necessary!
If you have signs of illness you should not only distance from people but also from the animals around you. No deaths in pets from COVID but they can carry for a week or two, usually transmitting in their feces (so pick up after your pets in the campgrounds please – goes for human waste also with virus passage). Ferrets are actually most susceptible followed by cats and so far the illness for cats has only been mild & then clears, no shedding after a couple weeks. Our pets will only get sick if we give it to them ….
We’ve been giving Corona Virus Vaccine’s to dogs for years. In fact when this came up, I thought we’d see some info on working from that vaccine as a base at least to come up with this particular strain. But haven’t heard anyone mention it yet.