Have you ever wondered whether your pets need to be vaccinated? According to Hale Animal Health, animal specialists and premium New Zealand pet supplement company, there is no need to worry.
“Globally, there are very few examples of transmission from humans to animals, including to domestic dogs and cats. At the same time, there are no reports or evidence that dogs and cats can transmit the virus to people,” said Managing Director of Hale Animal Health, Leila de Koster.
“With substantial research pointing to the fact that pets do not easily acquire Covid-19, nor seemingly spread it to other animals, nor develop the significant disease, the best information confirms that vaccination for pets is not necessary at this point,” said de Koster.
She said while infection under natural conditions appears rare if a pet was to become infected with Covid-19, its immune system should eliminate the disease with few or no complications.
All the available evidence suggests the virus is predominantly transmitted between people. However, because the SARS-CoV-2 virus is believed to have originated in an animal, most likely a bat, some people are naturally concerned for their companion animals.
“The fact that Covid-19 is unlikely to be completely eradicated also adds to anxiety for some pet owners. While there are now a tonne of studies underway around the world, all the evidence so far points to Covid-19 not being a problem for pets,” she said.
Hale’s research reveals the number of pet cases is extremely low compared with the number of human cases, with only 115 cats and 81 dogs testing positive for Covid-19 globally as of February this year.
“It’s important to note that the very rare number of pets that have tested positive were not showing illness. Rather, they were mostly diagnosed through surveillance screening conducted in households with Covid-19 positive people.
“Fortunately, of the few pets which have tested positive, most have been asymptomatic or showed only mild clinical signs, and no pet deaths have been reported.”
Hale Animal Health said that because it’s improbable a pet will contract Covid-19, testing is unnecessary.
If a human tested positive, they should limit contact with their pet and exercise the well-established Covid-19 hygiene measures. However, there is no need to remove pets from a dwelling during people’s isolation and recovery.
“At Hale, we are passionate pet owners too. We totally understand their concerns and could see this issue was causing a few to worry. By drawing on the latest and leading international research, we hope our work provides greater clarity and confidence. After all, a happy pet owner means a happy pet,” said de Koster.
Click here to find out more.
