Covid-19 is currently causing a lot of panic around the world. Many ask themselves whether dogs can also be infected with Corona. We explain to concerned dog owners what needs to be considered when it comes to the virus in connection with four-legged friends and what happens in the event of quarantine or curfew.
You are currently still allowed to walk the dog. However, you should make sure that you keep a minimum distance from other people and wash your hands immediately after the walk. It is best to choose walk routes where you meet as few other people as possible. So far, it has not yet been stipulated that you can only go for a walk near your apartment/house, so longer walks are still possible.
What happens to my dog if I have to go into quarantine?
If you have been infected with Covid-19 and therefore have to remain in quarantine at home, the question arises as to what will happen to your dog. If you own a property with a garden, you have the opportunity to let your darling out there. Otherwise you have to ask friends, neighbors, or other acquaintances who are not in quarantine to take your dog for a walk. However, they are not allowed to enter your home and should ideally use a different leash than you. Alternatively, you can hire a professional dog walker or look for groups on social media that offer pet owners help in the current situation.
If you have no alternative, you can temporarily leave your dog at an animal shelter or a kennel during the quarantine period. However, you should find out in advance whether the respective facility is still open or whether there are still places available.
Also, avoid too much contact with your loved one. Even if the corona virus has not been proven 100 percent in dogs, the danger still exists. So don’t snuggle with him during this time and avoid nose and mouth contact. Also, always wash your hands thoroughly after touching your pet.
This is what happens during a curfew
What exactly happens in Germany during a curfew is not clear at the moment. The responsible health authority must decide and prescribe this. In Italy, where the curfew has already been imposed, dog owners are still allowed to walk their animals alone – as short as possible. There they also have to stay close to their home, maintain a distance to other pet owners and wash their hands immediately after returning to the home.
Can dogs get infected with Covid-19?
In Hong Kong, the coronavirus was first detected in a dog at the beginning of March. Although the animal showed no symptoms, swabs from the nose and ears proved to be slightly positive.
In Germany, dog owners do not currently have to worry and do not have to take any special precautions. A virologist from the University of Nottingham thinks checking all animals from infected people is overkill because it would only trigger mass hysteria. He reassures dog owners, as it is currently unclear whether the four-legged friend has actually contracted the coronavirus or whether the weak values in the nose area may come from his environment. In addition, there is no evidence that dogs can be carriers. Because the pathogen would have to hijack the cells of the dogs, multiply there and then switch back to humans. However, it is highly unlikely that the coronavirus will cross the species barrier so many times in such a short period of time.
As the Wuff dog magazine reports, dogs are currently being trained in Great Britain to be able to sniff out corona infections with their extremely good noses. To do this, the charity Medical Detection Dogs entered into a partnership with scientists. The researchers believe that the fine noses of the four-legged friends can be sensitized to Covid-19 within six weeks so that they can be used for diagnosis. Scientists are currently working on capturing the smell of corona patients to present to the dogs. Medical Detection Dogs has already conducted various training programs of this type.
Appeal: Also think of the animal shelters, dog breeders etc.
Animal shelters must also prepare for the possible curfew to both ensure the care of the four-legged friends and to protect the staff. Some animal shelters in Europe have already closed, others are open but have canceled all events.
In principle, however, we would like to appeal to you to think of the animal shelters, dog breeders, and other people who earn their living and money with dogs and to support them if possible, because they, above all, are dependent on help. Even if it is currently not possible to look at dogs, you can already look for your dream dog and contact the provider.
