Can my dog get covid

Overview

The risk of getting COVID-19 from animals in the United States, including wildlife, is low. We know that some mammals can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, and there is evidence that some free-ranging wildlife have been infected in the United States. More studies are needed to understand how the virus can spread in wildlife.

Considerations for Members of the Public

Because wildlife can carry multiple zoonotic diseases, even without looking sick, it is always important to enjoy wildlife from a distance.

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To prevent getting sick from wildlife in the United States:

• Keep your family, including pets, a safe distance away from wildlife.
• Do not feed wildlife or touch wildlife droppings.
• Keep pets away from wildlife and their droppings.
• Always wash your hands and supervise children washing their hands after working or playing outside.
• Leave young animals alone. Often, the parents are close by and will return for their young.
• Do not approach or touch a sick or dead animal – contact your state wildlife agencyexternal icon
• Consult your state wildlife agency’s guidance if you are preparing or consuming legally harvested game meat.

Considerations for Hunters

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There is currently no evidence that you can get COVID-19 by preparing or eating food, including wild hunted game meat in the United States. However, hunters should practice good hygiene and follow these recommendations to prevent getting sick:

• Do not allow contact between wildlife and domestic animals, including pets and hunting dogs.
• Do not harvest animals that appear sick or are found dead.
• Keep game meat clean and cool the meat down as soon as possible after harvesting the animal.

These safety practices can reduce risk when handling and cleaning game:

• Wear a mask to reduce your risk of coming into contact with pathogens transmitted through respiratory droplets. Preparing a carcass may make aerosols (small droplets and particles in the air) which could contain the virus.
• Wear rubber or disposable gloves.
• Do not eat, drink, or smoke when handling and cleaning game.
• Avoid cutting through the backbone and spinal tissues and do not eat the brains of wildlife.

• When finished handling and cleaning game:
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that were in contact with game meat with soap and water and then disinfect them.
  • Cook all game meat thoroughly (to an internal temperature of 165°F or higher).
  • Check with your state wildlife agency about testing requirements for other diseases and for specific instructions on preparing, transporting, and eating game meat.

Hierarchy of Controls to Lower the Risk of the Virus that Causes COVID-19 Spreading between People and Wildlife

The Hierarchy of Controls is a standard tool applied in occupational safety and health practices to minimize exposure to hazards by using effective control solutions. The Hierarchy of Controls approach is used in the following sections to provide context for minimizing disease spread between people and wildlife.

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Using controls near the top of the hierarchy leads to an inherently safer approach than using only controls near the bottom. Levels of control are not mutually exclusive and can be combined as needed.

Considerations for Agencies or Programs Conducting Wildlife Research, Wildlife Management, and Wildlife Control Activities

Activities that involve being close to or directly handling wildlife can increase the chances that people with COVID-19 could spread the virus to people or animals. State, federal, tribal, and territorial wildlife agencies may consider additional restrictions or other measures to reduce the possibility that:

• Susceptible wildlife are exposed to the virus by people who are infected;
• Infected wildlife spread the virus;
• Infected wildlife spread the virus back to people in the future.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Fish and Wildlife Health Committee pdf icon[PDF – 2 pages]external iconprovides potential risk mitigation strategies for wildlife scientists, biologists, hunters, trappers, and wildlife control operators that come in direct contact with wildlife.

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