The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world quite a bit, ever since it got started in early 2020. It’s extremely important to take good care of ourselves and follow the proper rules to avoid any health problems. That being said, a lot of pet owners are worried that their pet might be able to get COVID-19 as well. So the question is, can pets get this virus and if so, how does it affect them?
Is it possible for a pet to get infected with COVID-19?
The short answer here is yes, although a lot more research is needed in order to have a complete, final answer. We do know that the virus can spread from people to animals, so there is a possibility that will happen. On top of that, there were cats and dogs reported to have the SARS COV-2 virus that leads to COVID-19. So while there is a possibility, it’s not very common for a pet to have COVID-19. That being said, most pets get COVID-19 when they stay too close to the owner for a prolonged time period.
What symptoms should you watch out for?
These differ quite a bit, but for the most part you need to be wary of symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, eye discharges, runny nose, sneezing, lethargy, coughing, fever and so on. If you encounter one or more of these, your pet might be infected with COVID-19. At that point, you must talk with the vet right away and see what happens.
What can you do if your pet has this virus?
It’s important to note that your pet might get sick, or it might not get sick, it depends on the situation. That being said, most of the time cats and dogs will have a mild illness, and the pet will fully recover. Taking your pet to the vet is very important, just to make sure that there are no issues.
That being said, if you had COVID-19 yourself, you can talk with the vet to come and assess your pet’s health in a secure location, away from any infection issues. Ideally, if your pet has COVID-19, you want to keep it at home. That means limiting the amount of time your pet is allowed to stay outside, and you should also consider not visiting the groomer, pet day care or any facility where the pet can spread thi9s virus.
Protecting your pet when he/she is sick
Offer your pet the medication that was offered by your vet. On top of that, it’s also very recommended to wear a mask when you’re near your pet. Locking his access to certain rooms is a good idea too. You also want to clean and disinfect locations where your pet sits every day, just to be on a safe side. In addition, vaccinating yourself can also help.
Pets can indeed get the COVID-19 virus, so you need to monitor their health and if you see any symptoms, go to the vet right away. It’s crucial to do this if you want to have a healthy and happy pet. There will always be challenges that can appear as you try to take good care of your pet, but you need to be wary and follow instructions coming from vetted professionals, as they will be the ones that can help properly during a situation like this.