3.13.20
According to the World Health Organization and veterinary experts at press time, you likely don't have to worry about spreading Coronavirus to your furry friends (or them spreading COVID-19 to you). Household pets likely can't transmit COVID-19. The World Health Organization (at press time for this story 3.13.20) reported that your pet likely cannot transmit COVID-19 to you: "While there has been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong, to date, there is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19. COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly." Veterinarians believe that your pets can't get COVID-19. Vets believe COVID-19 was probably on the aforementioned dog's fur, but did not sicken the dog. "The dog never became clinically ill, and it remains unclear whether the dog tested positive from being kept in an environment with a COVID-19-infected human or if the dog truly became infected with COVID-19," explains Christie Long, DVM, head of veterinary medicine at Modern Animal. "Since the dog lives with a COVID-19 patient, the potential is significant for the positive test to have come as a result of the dog picking up the virus from the environment with its nose." Dogs can get some types of coronavirus... The reason why vets initially weren't sure whether the pet in question was infected is because there are some strains of coronavirus that animals can get, especially puppies. "This form of the virus tends to be mild and self-limiting," Long explains. "Puppies are the most at-risk for serious infection, and following your veterinarian's advice regarding keeping very young puppies quarantined at home until fully vaccinated (typically 16 weeks of age) is key to protecting them from the most common infectious diseases that can affect them."
Vets are continuing to carefully monitor the coronavirus as we learn more about it, to ensure it doesn't mutate into a form that can make our animals sick.
via Lizz Schumer at goodhousekeeping.com | 
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