What is the most panic-creating discussed topic in recent times? If you asked the people this question, everyone would give the same answer, and that is COVID-19 Coronavirus.
The virus was first infected at a food market in Wuhan, China, and experts think that the virus emerged from bats, snakes, or pangolin. It is a deadly infectious virus that is causing many people to get infected with this.
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Are Only humans infected with this virus? The answer is no; our pets can also get infected with this virus. The virus makes a significant impact on our pets. We are now going to discuss in detail how this virus affects pets and how we can protect our pets from it.
Can Coronavirus be Infected in Pets as well:
So far, a large number of pets have not been found to have coronavirus infections. However, you must keep in mind that viruses can sometimes be infected in one species but may not cause illness in that species or become infectious to others.
Some researchers at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China have tested the susceptibility of the virus to some pets, including dogs and cats. From those tested results, experts found that cats can be infected with Coronavirus and spread to other cats through regimen droplets. However, there were no external signs of illness.
The most positive results have been found in dogs because they carry a lot of resistance. The virus was inoculated on the body of some dogs. They were kept in the same cage with some other healthy dogs. After a week, experts tested on healthy dogs and found the negative result of COVID-19 infections.
In addition to our domesticated animals, the virus is also susceptible to disease to some other species because they contain a protein called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2. Some researchers at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China have come up with various studies. They suggest that the virus replicates poorly in chickens, poultry, and pigs.
Some researchers estimate that the infection can spread to goats, sheep, horses, pangolins, lings and pigeons. The Tigers have also been shown to be susceptible to the virus. The USDA confirmed SARS-Cove-2 in a tiger in the New York zoo. It is the first infection with COVID-19 in a tiger’s body.
Can our Pets infect us?
So far, scientists have not been able to know everything about SARS-CoV-2. But there has been no evidence that the virus can be infected by pets to the human body. This virus is mainly infected from person to person. However, this does not mean that you do not have to be careful.
Although there has been no evidence of COVID-19 infection from pets to humans, you should always be on guard. Be careful, you should not allow any other people to handle your pet at this time. But if you need pets’ veterinary care, you can get help from an expert.
You can also wash your hands with soap and water after getting in contact with your pet. It will help you to escape from this virus and get rid of infections with ailments like E. coli and salmonella as well.
How Can I Protect My Pet If I Get Infected With COVID-19?
If you feel unwell and you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, your first thing to do is to check. If the result is positive, then you must start by following the World Health Organization (WHO) suggestions.
Just as you can interact with other people during this time, you need to restrict your pet’s communication.
If you are sick, keeping your pet quarantined will be the right decision. When you are sick, ask another family member to take care of your pet. You can also wear a mask so that your pet does not get infected with this virus through the saliva secreted from your mouth.
Will Veterinarians be Able to Test our Pets for COVID-19 Detection?
The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory can test new COVID-19 in pets. If you want to check your pet, you must submit a test request by a veterinarian and must include the correct reasoning for the test.
Do my Pets Need to Wear Masks?
Simply to answer, there is no need to because masks made for pets are not valid at preventing infectious diseases through bodily fluids. Instead, it causes problems for our pets to breathe.
You can vaccinate your pet for Bordetella, parainfluenza and canine influenza to prevent your pet from breathing problems.
Is there a COVID-19 Vaccine for Pets?
No COVID-19 vaccine has been developed for humans and pets. Although there is a canine coronavirus vaccine, it is not suitable for the coronavirus family. That vaccine is not capable of preventing COVID-19. So you have to be careful to protect your pet from this virus.
Final Thoughts:
We can now all realize how Coronavirus is affecting the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the virus as an epidemic. Since no medicine or cure of it, so be careful and protect your pet from this pandemic virus.
