Social Distancing for House Pets - 1st 2 reported cases in house cats & safety

[Em in Ohio]

"Social distancing for cats and dogs, too
Asked about the cats on Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said "it's not surprising" they could have been infected.
But Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist, emphasized that "there is no evidence whatsoever that we've seen, from an epidemiological standpoint, that pets can be transmitters within the household."
While officials are still learning more about coronavirus and pets, the CDC is recommending that people limit interactions between their pets and people or animals outside the household.

Cats should be kept indoors when possible, the CDC said, and dogs should be walked on a leash, maintaining at least six feet from other people and animals. The agency said dogs should also avoid public places where a large number of people and animals gather, such as dog parks.

If someone is ill with Covid-19 -- whether suspected or confirmed -- officials recommend having another member of the household care for pets. If that's not possible, people should wear cloth face coverings around animals, making sure to wash their hands before and after any interactions.

And when people are sick, officials said they should refrain from petting or snuggling their pets -- and avoid being kissed or licked."

I broke down and frolicked with my neighbor's dog (mutual adoration relationship) - Certainly hope that neither of us are symptomless carriers. She snuck in a couple face licks. I would be devastated to think that I infected her.

 

[Lee]

We will need a vaccine then for pets I imagine. And what about taking your pet to the vet?

 

[Em in Ohio]

We will need a vaccine then for pets I imagine. And what about taking your pet to the vet?

Well, the house cats are recovering, I believe. As for our pets, you would have to call your vet to see if they are open and willing to see your pet. Just as they advise humans, call first. They are going to ask about your pet's symptoms and any known contacts with infected humans that might have occured - This might determine whether they allow scheduling.

It is too early to tell if animal infection will spread widely, so I imagine that they might potentially deny office visits. Hopefully, they can call in medications and instruct people to keep an ill pet in isolation. As an animal lover, this news item just struck me really hard. /-;

 

[Lee]

When I took Ranger to the vet a few weeks ago for a blood test I was amazed at the precautions they took. I had to phone from the car to let them know I was there.

They called back after a few minutes to let me know that they were on the way to pick up the cat and to place his carrier on the chair in the entrance.

She unlocked the door, put her hand up to wait, she stepped back and then motions to put the carrier down. She wore a mask, gloves, and gown.

I waited, they called after a few minutes to tell me they were bringing him out and she put both cat and debit machine on the chair and stepped back and the only contact was to hand me the paperwork and debit slip.

After I went out the chair, door, and floor was sprayed and wiped.

 

[Aneeda72]

Taking the puppies to the vet today. Couple of weeks ago I was at home depot, lots of people, lots of dogs. This guy went up to someone’s dog, petted him, and kissed him on the head. Yuck! That’s the way to spread the virus.

My boys are staying home with no exposure. I decided to pay more for shots at a private vet rather than continue at the humane society. You just never know.

 

[win231]

Well, I guess I'm doomed.
Several wild cats I feed like to sleep on my chest & they've been rubbing their chins on my face.
And when they start testing reptiles, I'll be doomed again. Yesterday, I pet a large lizard I saw when I moved the trash cans out. He ran up my arm then up to my head & jumped into a tree.
And the opossum & raccoon both breathed on me while I put their food out.
Since I won't stop, looks like I'm screwed........

 

[Em in Ohio]

Well, I guess I'm doomed.
Several wild cats I feed like to sleep on my chest & they've been rubbing their chins on my face.
And when they start testing reptiles, I'll be doomed again. Yesterday, I pet a large lizard I saw when I moved the trash cans out. He ran up my arm then up to my head & jumped into a tree.
And the opossum & raccoon both breathed on me while I put their food out.
Since I won't stop, looks like I'm screwed........

You must live in a wild neighborhood. I highly recommend a hot, soapy shower after you tend to your flock!

 

[win231]

You must live in a wild neighborhood. I highly recommend a hot, soapy shower after you tend to your flock!

Actually, I live in the city. But the animals really like my food & they've been spreading the word.
When I sometimes rest on a bench during my park walk, I've had squirrels jump into my lap & I'll hand them pieces of my granola bar. People walking by sometimes gasp, "Oh, my God." One lady said "You can get Bubonic Plague."

 

[Em in Ohio]

Actually, I live in the city. But the animals really like my food & they've been spreading the word.
When I sometimes rest on a bench during my park walk, I've had squirrels jump into my lap & I'll hand them pieces of my granola bar. People walking by sometimes gasp, "Oh, my God." One lady said "You can get Bubonic Plague."

"
Plague is caused by a bacteria carried by rodents and fleas
It spreads like this: Wild rodents — chipmunks, mice, squirrels — can carry the bacteria. The fleas that live around them feed on them and pick it up, spreading the bug to other mammals they bite, including humans.Oct 30, 2015

Bubonic plague cases are on the rise in the US. Yes, really ...

I got encephalitis at the age of 22, reportedly because I took in a sick cat that died the next day. They believe that the virus got into the cat by a mosquito bite and that a flea or tick on the cat bit me. I was in intensive care for days, hospitalized for ten more, got the last rites, and had memory issues afterwards. So, If I tend to go on about viruses, it is from the voice of experience - a very bad experience.

 

[win231]

I guess it's worth the risk to me because I like animals so much. When I was 12, I had a 12-foot snake that I handled daily. A doctor told my mom reptiles have Salmonella on their skin & I could get very sick. Well, miracle....I never did.
And one wacko housekeeper told my mom "Serpents are evil & I have an evil spirit because I touch them." LOL - religious wacko. So far, no animal ever made me sick, but some people have.....

 

[Em in Ohio]

I guess it's worth the risk to me because I like animals so much. When I was 12, I had a 12-foot snake that I handled daily. A doctor told my mom reptiles have Salmonella on their skin & I could get very sick. Well, miracle....I never did.
And one wacko housekeeper told my mom "Serpents are evil & I have an evil spirit because I touch them." LOL - religious wacko. So far, no animal ever made me sick, but some people have.....

Yes, I have had a wide range of critters including snakes, dogs, cats, a rabbit, turtles, toads, skunks, and anything injured - that includes many birds and a chipmunk. My kids and their friends were always bringing me broken creatures that they found. My record was pretty good.

Other than the encephalitis, nothing made me ill, but I did wash thoroughly after handling wild things.

 

[win231]

Other than a couple of dog bites, the closest I ever came to getting hurt by an animal was when I was 5 years old.
My parents liked to drive to Las Vegas & we all piled into the car. My mom liked to take photos with Joshua trees. We stopped in the desert & we all got out of the car. My dad should have known better than to let me wander around because he knew I liked to pet everything I saw.

I saw a cute snake under a bush (yeah, a Mohave Green Rattlesnake - one of the deadliest) & I picked him up & was handling him for at least 5 minutes when my dad yelled, "Hey...put that down; he can kill you." I said, "But he likes me." My dad didn't dare come near me until I put him down.
To this day, I don't know why he didn't bite or even rattle.

 

[Em in Ohio]

Other than a couple of dog bites, the closest I ever came to getting hurt by an animal was when I was 5 years old.
My parents liked to drive to Las Vegas & we all piled into the car. My mom liked to take photos with Joshua trees. We stopped in the desert & we all got out of the car. My dad should have known better than to let me wander around because he knew I liked to pet everything I saw.

I saw a cute snake under a bush (yeah, a Mohave Green Rattlesnake - one of the deadliest) & I picked him up & was handling him for at least 5 minutes when my dad yelled, "Hey...put that down; he can kill you." I said, "But he likes me." My dad didn't dare come near me until I put him down.
To this day, I don't know why he didn't bite or even rattle.

Probably the same reason that I never got bit or skunked - animals can sense threats and (I believe) know when you 'respect them' and/or are trying to help them in some way. I did get scratched occasionally, but never felt it was an act of aggression - more of a reaction to being handled.

 

[PopsnTuff]

I posted this similar article yesterday....

The animals appear to have mild symptoms and likely caught the virus from their owners. And there’s no evidence pets can pass it to humans.

The first pets in the United States, two cats from New York State, have tested positive for the virus that is causing the worldwide pandemic, the Agriculture Department and the Centers for Disease Control announced Wednesday.
The cats, from different parts of the state, are showing only mild symptoms and are expected to be fine.

Testing positive does not mean the cats have the same illness that people have. Nor does it mean that the cats can pass on the illness to people. And tests for pets are not the same as those for people, so no humans missed out on testing because the cats were tested.

Other cats have tested positive for the virus, SARS-CoV-2, including a pet in Belgium and a tiger at the Bronx zoo. After the tiger who showed mild symptoms tested positive, the zoo collected fecal samples from other big cats and found that a total of five tigers and three lions had been infected. One of the tigers didn’t show any symptoms. All of the big cats are doing well, the zoo reported Wednesday.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/health/cats-pets-coronavirus.html?

I'm now wondering how the animal labs that work with the vets even recognize the covid19 virus under their microscopes when they very rarely deal with this, hmm.....are they updated or just guessing....

We will need a vaccine then for pets I imagine. And what about taking your pet to the vet?

Lots of em are doing curbside service by scooping up your pet and bringing them inside, performing services and returning them to you.

 

[Em in Ohio]

I'm now wondering how the animal labs that work with the vets even recognize the covid19 virus under their microscopes when they very rarely deal with this, hmm.....are they updated or just guessing....

I'm assuming it takes a high-powered microscope since Covid-19 is very small, but I think the virus itself has a fairly distinctive appearance. There are 3D models online to make recognition easier.

 

[Ken N Tx]

 

[Em in Ohio]

Oh my - how adorable! The kitty is smarter than some people, covering its mouth!

 

[squatting dog]

Well, like Win, I guess I'm doomed. All my fur babies have constantly been hugged, kissed, and generally fondled.
Even the chickens, cows, and horses stop by for a little hand out.
Plus, I have to include the wild creatures that we feed and that come around all the time Oh... the horror.

 

[Em in Ohio]

Well, like Win, I guess I'm doomed. All my fur babies have constantly been hugged, kissed, and generally fondled.
Even the chickens, cows, and horses stop by for a little hand out.
Plus, I have to include the wild creatures that we feed and that come around all the time Oh... the horror.

Only potentially doomed - much less so if you wash (-:

 

[squatting dog]

Only potentially doomed - much less so if you wash (-:

Yep, germs don't stand a chance around here. Even before all this virus panic, the wife has been anal about cleanliness. Soap, bleach,vinegar, and alcohol, have always been some of the most used items in our house. Neither the wife or I have ever had any kind of cold or flu in years, so I have to figure that the cleaning has a lot to do with that fact. (also, we have never had a flu shot)
These days, whenever I go anywhere, I keep these gloves handy. Pick up the mail, handle a delivery, pump gas, etc. Cheap, disposable and simple to use.

https://www.amazon.com/Disposable-G...R52NP058J9V&psc=1&refRID=SBHE7Q18ER52NP058J9V

On another note, I caught a story today that shows that UV grow lights (sometimes called blue lights) hung from above, with ceiling fans to move the air and a room temp of around 75 degrees helps kill airborne viruses. You may have noticed the lights in hospitals, (usually florescent, not bulbs) We like that thought since we have 2 of those lights hung from the ceiling (helpful when starting plants), and our house usually sits at a comfortable 75 degrees and every room has a ceiling fan going.

 

[Em in Ohio]

Three or more cheers for your wife! I have seen the UV lights in a fast food place - and this was before the pandemic. I am fairly certain that they do affect viruses, but don't know that the human body should be exposed to that light consistently - a research project for another day! (Ha Ha - I just realized that this was the thread that I started about sick kitties!)

 

[squatting dog]

Three or more cheers for your wife! I have seen the UV lights in a fast food place - and this was before the pandemic. I am fairly certain that they do affect viruses, but don't know that the human body should be exposed to that light consistently - a research project for another day! (Ha Ha - I just realized that this was the thread that I started about sick kitties!)

It does tend to stray off topic sometimes doesn't it?

 

[Em in Ohio]

Today's news - a dog tested positive for Covid-19. He reportedly got it from his humans. There is helpful information here:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html