By Sammie Jones-
The UKs first pet dog to catch Covid-19 from its owner is now recovering at home , after testing positive at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) laboratory in Weybridge.
Christine Middlemiss said that the tests confirmed that the virus responsible for Covid-19 had been detected in the pooch, who was undergoing treatment for another unrelated condition. The news is a reminder that humans can infect animals with viruses, as in this case.
Cases of owners spreading the virus to their pet cats or dogs are not new, and could bring new attention to the proximity owners allow others to have with their pets.
In Italy, an eight-year-old cat was diagnosed with the Alpha variant of Covid-19 in March, while in Texas, researchers found the same variant in a cat and a dog from the same home in the state’s Brazos County.
Cats and dogs may catch Covid-19 from their owners, after testing swabs and blood samples from 154 cats and 156 dogs belonging to people who had tested positive for the virus.
The study found that six cats and seven dogs (4.2 per cent) had positive PCR tests, and 31 cats and 23 dogs (17.4 per cent) tested positive for antibodies. Overall, 20.4 per cent of pets tested showed antibodies for the virus.
According to guidance from APHA and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), other animals that can catch the virus that causes Covid-19 include big cats in captivity, ferrets, fruit bats, mink, non-human primates, pangolins, raccoon dogs, rodents, white-tailed deer, and pigs.
The Chief Veterinary Officer said there is no evidence to suggest that pets or other domestic animals are able to transmit coronavirus to people.
Middlemiss said: “It is very rare for dogs to be infected and they will usually only show mild clinical signs and recover within a few days.
“There is no clear evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is advising people to wash their hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals, to avoid spreading Covid-19.
Dr Katherine Russell, consultant medical epidemiologist at UKHSA, added: “Covid-19 is predominantly spread from person to person but in some situations the virus can spread from people to animals.”