Can sick individuals still cuddle with their pets? Is there a risk of pets transmitting their cold symptoms to their owners?
When you've got the cuddle bug and can't resist spending some quality time with your fur pal, it might not be the best idea when one of you is under the weather. Go ahead and blame your furry friend for spreading zoonotic diseases, those that can pass from animals to humans (let's not forget SARS and COVID-19, shall we?). On the flip side, whatever's making you snifflier than a weeping willow could infect Fluffy or Fido through reverse zoonosis.
CAN YOUR PET CATCH YOUR COLD OR COVID-19?
Pet-to-human transmission ain't really a concern here, but pet-to-owner transmission is a whole other story – especially with COVID-19. Take it from Dr. Anne-Claire Duchaussoy, the head of internal medicine and a specialist in small animal internal medicine at Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, "There have been confirmed cases where pets, primarily cats and dogs, have contracted COVID-19 from their owners."
Why do some pets seem more susceptible to COVID-19 than others? Well, it all comes down to biology. Cats appear more vulnerable, likely because their cell receptors are similar to those of humans. Dogs have a slightly lower risk, but they're not entirely safe either. Remember, species with respiratory systems like humans are more likely to catch what we've got.
It's worth mentioning that, while pets can catch COVID-19, there doesn't seem to be a risk of humans catching it from their feathered or furred friends. So, don't worry about your doggo giving you the virus. You're more likely to give it to your dog. That's just the way the cookie crumbles when it comes to zoonotic diseases.
- Dr. Anne-Claire Duchaussoy, a noted expert in small animal internal medicine, has confirmed cases of pets, primarily cats and dogs, contracting COVID-19 from their owners.
- Cats are more susceptible to COVID-19 due to their cell receptors being similar to humans, making them more likely to catch the virus from their owners.
- Dogs also have a lower, but still existing risk of contracting COVID-19 from their owners, highlighting the importance of maintaining health-and-wellness precautions around pets.
- Contrary to popular concern, the science suggests that pets cannot catch COVID-19 from their owners, so mental-health reassurance can be found in the understanding that your doggo is not a health risk for you.
