Dogs and COVID-19: What you need to know

The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and it can be hard to find accurate information.

At Seeing Eye Dogs, our expert veterinary staff want to address speculation that dogs can be carriers of the virus.

Inanimate objects and surfaces that can carry infectious diseases are called fomites.

The large majority of objects you come in to contact with could act a as fomite, including your car keys, mobile phone, coffee cup, or computer, anything.

A dog’s coat could carry COVID-19 if the dog has been handled by someone that has the virus.

However, for someone to contract COVID-19 from a dog’s coat, they would have to touch the dog, and then transmit it by then touching their eyes, mouth or nose.

Thorough hand hygiene after handling a dog will prevent this from occurring.

The restrictions currently in place across Australia should be prohibiting people other than those in your household coming into contact with your dog and reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 through your dog even more.

If you are out walking your dog and someone asks if they can give them a pat, politely decline. For our clients and carers, keeping your dog in their supplied coat while out walking will help enforce this behaviour.

Finally, we wanted to assure you that as of right now, there is no evidence that dogs can contract COVID-19

Please ensure you are all practicing social distancing, proper hand hygiene, and remember that we’re all in this together.