Coronavirus: No evidence it’s affecting pets

“There is no evidence at this time that dogs or cats can become ill due to the novel Coronavirus,” said a prominent veterinarian and author.

Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinarian on Rover’s Dog People Panel and author of “The Ultimate Pet Health Guide,” said there have been cases of dogs “testing weak positive when they have been living with an infected person, but it is not suspected these animals can pass the virus to humans.”

Richter said there are no precautions regarding keeping pets clean relative to the virus.

“If the pet was exposed to an infected person, it is theoretically possible that virus particles on their fur could be picked up by a human as a result of petting, although this is unlikely,” Richter said. “If a pet is suspected to have been exposed to an infected person, bathing the pet should resolve any concerns about them carrying virus on their fur.”

Taking a pet to a dog park “might expose people to other infected humans,” Richter said, but “there is currently no evidence to suggest that transmission from dogs or cats to humans has occurred.”

For more information, visit “Dogs and the Coronavirus: A Resource Guide for Pet Parents About COVID-19” at www.rover.com/blog/dogs-covid19-resource-guide.