How to Protect Your Pet When a Family Member Falls Sick or is in Isolation due to COVID-19

October 5, 2021

• Updated 3 years ago

• 3 min read

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Is my pet at risk of catching Covid-19?

You may be wondering: What should you do if your pet is a close contact to a positive case?

It's actually not unusual to be worried about pets getting infecting with COVID-19, especially during uncertain times during this still-ongoing pandemic.

There has been a few cases of animals being tested positive for COVID-19 as early as Mar 2020, such as this Belgian case. However, in Singapore, there has not been any confirmed cases of pets and animals contracting Covid-19 to date (as of 03 Oct 2021), although there have been some confirmed cases of infected pets overseas.

Can pets be infected from their humans, or can they spread to their owners?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the possibility of pets spreading Covid-19 to hoomans is low. However, it is possible that humans can spread the virus to their pets especially if they are in close contact with them (which is very common, all the cuddles and kisses, we know).

Having said that, given the raging pandemic that is still ongoing today (and likely to become an endemic event), it is still important for pet owners to learn some tips on how to protect their little furry friends if a family member is tested positive or suspected to be infected with COVID-19. This is because it's all about protecting yourself, your family and your pet!

How to protect your pet when a family member falls sick or is in isolation

Here's some tips for you when it comes to caring for your pet if there is a suspected close contact case or positive case in your family.

Hygiene matters!
It's important to wash up regularly before and after handling your pet (including hugs and petting), their food bowl and daily supplies!
Maintain social distancing from your pet
If you have a close family member who is already isolating themselves from people, they should isolate from the animals too.
Seek your veterinarian's help if your pet falls ill
If your dog or cat falls sick, especially after being in close contact with a suspected or confirmed human COVID-19 case, call a vet immediately. It's for the pet and the humans' safety!
Take precautions if you must take care of your pet while in isolation
Wear a mask when handling your pet and always wash your hands before and after interaction with them.

Your pets depend on you during this pandemic

Our pets are dependant on us for everything in their lives. So this article hopes to empower you with the knowledge to take steps to protect your pets during this still-uncertain times. Here's an infographic by Pawmeal© and Pawgazine© to help you understand everything in a snapshot, too! 😊

For Singaporean pet owners, there may not be any confirmed COVID-19 positive pet cases so far, but we never know when our dogs or cats may be already at risk from the coronavirus. Here's an article that provides a summary on how to protect your pet should your pet be at risk of getting infected.

Source: World Health Organization; World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Channel News Asia (30 Sep 2021), Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS)

One comment on “How to Protect Your Pet When a Family Member Falls Sick or is in Isolation due to COVID-19”

Can Dogs & Cats Get COVID-19? What Happens to Infected Pets? says:

October 5, 2021 at 2:20 am

[…] member is tested positive or is issued a quarantine order instead, and you have a pet at home? This article elaborates on how to take precautions to protect your pet from a potential close contact high risk […]

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