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Guidance issued by the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) recommends that house pets and animals who come into direct contact with humans who test positive for COVID-19 should be quarantined for 14 days.
The VCI advised vets dealing with customers concerned by reports of house pets and even zoo animals such as tigers, testing positive for the virus to explain the difference between “contaminated” rather than “infected” pets.
While there is no definitive link between pet and human transmission the Council advised that the situation still be treated with caution.
Animals that have contact with confirmed or suspect human cases should be treated as high risk
“At this point pets are not considered to be active transmitters of infections for humans,” the VCI said.
“However, animals that have contact with confirmed or suspect human cases should be treated as high risk of having the virus either on their coats, or in their faeces, as well as in nasal and oral secretions.
“It would be advisable that such animals be quarantined and kept in isolation for 14 days as a precautionary measure.”
The VCI also advised vets to implement “barrier nursing protocols” as a precautionary measure and that high risk COVID-19 patients should limit their contact with other animals.
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