Animals Today March 28, 2020. Can pets get the coronavirus disease? Animal welfare and investing

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Can pets get the coronavirus disease?

Lori kicks off this show beginning with Leigh Hofmeister, DVM, who addresses questions all pet guardians have been wondering about during the Covid-19 viral pandemic including if pets can become ill from the virus and if they can transmit the virus to people and make them ill. They also cover how to obtain veterinary care during the crisis, and creative ways some offices are taking care of out animals companions.

As per the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association website…

Can my pet contract the COVID-19 coronavirus?

A very small number of animals have been reported to be infected with the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 after close contact with people who had COVID-19. It’s important to remember that viruses can sometimes infect a species but not cause illness in that species, nor become transmissible to others.

Dogs

Two dogs in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus but did not show signs of illness. Both had contact with COVID-19 positive human cases. Hong Kong officials state that there is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of COVID-19 for humans or that the virus can cause the disease in dogs. If your dog is usually at home and doesn’t contact other dogs or people, and no one in your household has COVID-19, the odds that your dog would become infected are highly unlikely.

Cats

Studies suggest cats might be susceptible to the COVID-19 virus, and they might be able to transmit it to other cats. This finding is not surprising to scientists and veterinarians due the natures of feline susceptibility to coronaviruses. We do not have evidence that cats can pass COVID-19 to people though. We think cat owners should be informed, but not concerned, and certainly you should not stop interacting with or caring for your cat, particularly if you are well. Out of an abudance of caution, you may want to keep your cat inside away from other cats. If you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms, have someone else care for your cat if possible, and wash your hands thoroughly before and after contact.

https://www.oregonvma.org/care-health/zoonotic-diseases/coronavirus-faq

Mystical narwhals.

Lori then tells us about the mystical narwhal, known as the unicorns of the sea. Did you know their “tusks” are actually an elongated tooth?

Animal welfare and investing

Peter then welcomes Vicki Benjamin to explain how her company, Karner Blue Capital, is merging the worlds of Animal welfare and investing. Listen in to learn how they research and choose only responsible companies to include among their investment products. If some of the companies in your investment portfolio are not behaving responsibly, this investment firm may be worth a look! Minimal investments are quite modest!