Covid-19 and Pets - ISS (EN)

Can our pets transmit the virus to us? No, at the moment there is no evidence that pets play an epidemiological role in transmitting the SARS-CoV-2 to humans, but the opposite is possible. Our pets can catch the virus by getting in contact with people who are infected and occasionally develop the disease. Hence, precautionary measures should be taken at home to protect our pets, by following general personal hygiene rules and applying regular hygiene practices to pets and their living environment while having proper behaviours adopted by those who take care of them.

Cats, dogs, ferrets and other small mammals living together with people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be managed as potentially infected ‘contacts’. To take care of our pets safely, it is suggested to:

• Wash hands always before and after coming into contact with pets and after cleaning their litter and / or kennel.
• Clean their paws after a walk and before getting back into the house
• If you suspect you have the Covid-19 infection, limit contacts with your pet and assign the task of taking care of it to another family member or a person not living in the house. If that is not possible, you should always wear a face mask and gloves at all times
• Make sure that your pet is healthy; should it be ill, take care of it using only medicines prescribed by the veterinarian

In case pets show respiratory or gastroenteric symptoms ( respiratory failure, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, fever), call the vet who may consider submitting the pet to a diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 and, should the test be positive, the doctor will inform the Veterinary Service of the local Health Unit.

Animals testing positive shall be placed in isolation in a dedicated facility until they recover. Should these animals be living in a house with people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, they may remain in the house provided that the housing conditions allow for limited contacts between the positive pet and other animals or individuals.

Should pets die in a house where people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 ilive, it is mandatory to inform the veterinary health unit . They should be taken to the closest Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, where the relevant diagnostic research will be performed.

Programmes envisaging the use of guide dogs or rescue dogs, as well as animals employed for Pet Therapies, coming from homes where people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 live, must be reassessed bearing in mind the pets’ living environment, their handling in safety, their health, and the type of activity performed by the animal. Should it be decided to allow pets to perform their service, the carers and the beneficiaries of such services must use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks, gloves, etc..