A veterinary doctor has cautioned that pets, such as cats and dogs, could potentially facilitate the transmission of Coronavirus between humans, although the likelihood of this occurrence is very low.
The veterinarian was responding to concerns regarding the possibility of humans contracting Coronavirus from their pets.
A tiger at a New York City zoo tested positive for Coronavirus, marking the first known Covid-19 case in a US animal. It is believed that the tiger transmitted the virus to six other lions and tigers in the zoo. While scientists assert that pets cannot transmit the virus to humans, veterinarian Dr. Scott Miller believes that pets could transfer the virus through their fur.
Dr. Scott, speaking on the British daytime TV program ‘This Morning’ with TV Host Philip Scoffield, stated, “So at the moment we don’t believe that cats can, or any animal, pass it back to us from the initial infection. Now we don’t believe at all that dogs or cats can transmit it back to us as an infected host. What we are concerned about is that they may be able to act as a surface – so if someone with Covid-19 coughs on their dog and then takes it for a walk, then you pet their dog and then touch your face, you could potentially pick up Covid-19 that way – although the chances are very very low.”
Dr. Scott further added, “This case with the tiger – there’s also been one reflected in a domestic cat in Belgium – where that cat did actually show some coronavirus symptoms, i.e. had respiratory symptoms and had diarrhoea. Its owner did have coronavirus, both were tested and proven to have a positive result, but they have both since recovered. There is some concern and that is something very much that the veterinary profession will be watching, but it all boils down really to just good hygiene, and don’t touch other people’s pets at this time.”
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