Nearly 100 pet dogs and cats have contracted COVID-19. Heres how to protect your pets – WFLA

by: Addy Bink, Nexstar Media Wire

A resident wearing mask walks her dogs in Beijing. Pet cats and dogs cannot pass the new coronavirus on to humans, but they can test positive for low levels of the pathogen if they catch it from their owners. Thats the conclusion of Hong Kongs Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department after a dog in quarantine tested weak positive for the virus. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

(KTVX) Hundreds of thousands of Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last year, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they are not alone. According to a new report, nearly 100 pet dogs and cats are said to have contracted the virus, mostly after close contact with an infected person.

Treat pets as you would other human family members do not let pets interact with people outside the household, the CDC advises.

The CDC says infected pets might get sick or they might not have any symptoms, adding that of those that have gotten sick, most were only mildly ill and then fully recovered.

The risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low, based on the limited information available, the CDC says.

The CDC recommends pet owners limit their pets interaction with people outside their household to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading to their animals. The CDC offers these additional tips to keep you and your pets safe:

The CDC added that there is no evidence that the virus can spread to people from their pets skin, fur or hair. According to the CDC, you should not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products like hand sanitizer, counter-cleaning wipes, or other industrial or surface cleaners.

If you have questions about appropriate products for bathing or cleaning your pet, the CDC says to contact your veterinarian.

The CDC added that if you are sick with COVID-19, either suspected or confirmed by a test, you should restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just as you would with people.

If you are sick with COVID-19, and your pet becomes sick, the CDC advises that you do not take your pet to the veterinary clinic yourself. Instead, contact your veterinarian and let them know you have been sick with COVID-19. Some clinics may offer telemedicine consultations or other plans for seeing sick pets.

At this time, the CDC says there has been no evidence that animals are playing a significant role in the spread of COVID-19, but because all animals can carry germs that can make you and other people sick, the CDC says it is always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, the infection of animals with SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19 has implications for animal and human health, animal welfare, wildlife conservation and biomedical research.

The latest findings show that poultry and cattle are not susceptible to COVID-19 infection.

Utah is one of a number of states that have seen their mink populations affected by COVID-19.

In mid-December, a wild mink living in the area of an infected Utah farm tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Officials say this is the first free-ranging, native wild animal confirmed with SARS-CoV-2, to the best of their knowledge.

Utahs state veterinarian Dr. Dean Taylor said in November thatdata does not suggest mink are a threat to people. Thousands of mink on Utah farms havealready died because of the virus.

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Nearly 100 pet dogs and cats have contracted COVID-19. Heres how to protect your pets - WFLA