Research from Dr. Kewalee Chatrondonk, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, revealed that in Thailand, dogs and cats have been found to contract COVID-19 from their owners. This was discovered through the testing of 35 dogs and 9 cats.
The results showed that 1 dog and 1 cat were infected from their owners, indicating that pets can contract the virus from close contact with humans.
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What are the symptoms of COVID-19 in animals?
In general, pets infected with COVID-19 often show mild or no symptoms at all. Common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, and runny nose, typically lasting for 3-7 days and resolving without treatment. It’s not considered dangerous.
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Can the virus spread to humans?
If a pet becomes sick with COVID-19, it cannot transmit the virus to humans or other animals. This is because dogs and cats are not as susceptible to COVID-19 as humans. While the virus thrives and replicates well in human hosts, it cannot replicate effectively in animals. Symptoms are usually mild and there is no risk of transmission. However, caution should be exercised with pets that have pre-existing health conditions or are elderly, as COVID-19 could exacerbate existing symptoms.
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If a pet owner contracts COVID-19, it’s important to isolate from their pets for 14 days for safety. Alternatively, safe disinfectants like Dermodacyn, which kills 99.99% of viruses, including COVID-19, within 30 seconds, can be used.