What to know about life with pets in the age of coronavirus. The main thing? Pets don’t spread it

By Marty Becker and Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

With cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, increasing hourly, you may be concerned not only about your own health, but also that of your pets.

First things first: There’s no reason to believe that pets are either a source of infection or can become sick from the new coronavirus. That’s per Kendra Stauffer, DVM, a veterinary specialist in preventive medicine who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the areas of zoonoses (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans) and emerging infectious diseases. It spreads person to person, she writes in an email.

A dog in Hong Kong was quarantined after testing “weak positive” for COVID-19, in what is believed to be the first and so far only case of human-to-animal transmission of the virus. The dog showed no signs of illness after more than two weeks and later tested negative for the virus.

It’s unknown how long COVID-19 survives on skin, says Jonathan Bloom, DVM, at Willowdale Animal Hospital in Toronto. To reduce any potential spread, wash hands before and after touching pets, and refrain from giving or receiving kitty or canine kisses, as stress-relieving as it may be. To reduce concerns about possible spread of the virus, ask people not to pet your animal.

Have someone else care for pets if you’re sick, says Deb Eldredge, DVM, who recently attended a New York State Veterinary Medical Society webinar on COVID-19 presented by Hilary Jones, DVM. That’s to ensure that your pet doesn’t become a “fomite” -- an accidental transporter of infection. It’s an unlikely transmission route, but if a sick person pets him and then a healthy person pets him, viruses or bacteria have the potential to be transferred that way. If you’re sick but don’t have anyone to help care for your pet, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask if you have one and washing hands before and after handling.

Don’t put hand sanitizer on pets. The high levels of ethanol it contains are toxic if they lick it off.

Have at least a two-week supply of pet food and medication in case you are quarantined. Arrange with friends, neighbors or your veterinarian to provide pets with care or boarding if you’re hospitalized.

What about visiting the veterinarian?

“If pets have minor problems, consider asking your vet for a video consult,” says Dr. Eldredge. “Saves you and your pet from going into the clinic.”

If your pet does need to visit the veterinarian, call first to find out how care is being provided. They may have you call from the parking lot so they can come out to get your pet while you wait in the car. Alert staff if you have been to high-risk areas or have fever, coughing or shortness of breath. They can work with you to make sure your pet is seen in a way that’s safe for everyone.

To help prevent the spread of the virus between humans, events such as dog shows, cat shows, other competitions and training classes are being canceled. And the American Kennel Club has made a change in one of the steps of the Canine Good Citizen test, the handshake between handlers while dogs wait calmly. “In light of today’s concern about viruses, evaluators will replace the handshake with a pretend handshake or by putting tape on the floor to indicate where dog owners are to stop,” says Canine Good Citizen Director Mary R. Burch, Ph.D.

Be smart about not only your own interactions, but also your dog’s.

“It’s not a good time for a dog walking program,” says Dr. Bloom. “It’s not a good time for your dog to be at dog parks. If you’re in isolation, you should try to keep your dog’s interactions limited until we have more information.”

Think of it as a little bit of extra togetherness in a stressful time.

Q&A

How to groom

all that fur!

Q: My Persian cat has so much fur! What’s the best way to groom and bathe her?

A: We went straight to an expert to get advice for you. Heike Hagenguth of Soliman and Dasht-E Lut catteries has owned and bred Persians for more than 40 years. Here are her tips.

-- Persians can’t groom themselves completely without some human assistance. Brushing and combing not only maintains the coat, but also removes loose hair and helps to prevent hairballs.

-- Age matters. Baby fur tangles easily, while adult hair is usually easier to care for. And Persians are individuals. Some need to be groomed daily, while others need brushing and combing only two or three times a week.

-- A daily grooming routine involves combing fur gently with a wide-toothed comb. Don’t pull, or you might tear out hair. Use a comb with finer teeth for areas beside ears, chin and cheeks. “If I find tangles during grooming, I open them carefully with my fingers and comb them out without tearing hair,” she says. “If the mat is too big or cannot be removed, cut carefully without nicking the skin.”

-- Check claws, and trim if needed. Then, before bathing, comb to remove any tangles, which worsen if they get wet. Apply degreasing shampoo, massage gently into the fur to avoid damaging hair and rinse well. Afterward, you may apply a whitening or color-enhancing shampoo or conditioner. Rinse well, squeeze out excess water from the ends of the fur, and wrap your cat in a towel. Blow dry on cool or warm setting to avoid burning the skin, or use a pet dryer that works with ambient air. As you blow dry, check skin for fleas or other parasites, injuries or signs of infection such as redness.

For more about grooming longhaired cats, go to FearFreeHappyHomes.com. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pets don’t need

COVID-19 test

-- Do pets need to be tested for COVID-19? Right now the answer is no, but IDEXX Laboratories has tests that it says will be made available if necessary. While developing and validating a new veterinary test system for the novel virus, IDEXX tested samples from thousands of pet dogs and cats and found no positive results for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus strain that causes COVID-19. Pets with respiratory signs such as coughing should be seen by their veterinarian, who can check for common viral or bacterial pathogens that cause respiratory problems.

-- If your pet has had surgery or a sore spot, you’re familiar with the Elizabethan collar, a plastic device resembling an ugly lampshade that fits around your pet’s neck to prevent him from licking, biting, chewing or scratching at the area. We all know that pets hate the “cone of shame,” and now researchers at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science in Australia confirm that it affects not only pet quality of life but also that of owners. Not only does it interfere with a pet’s ability to sleep, eat, drink and move around, it also causes injuries to people and property. Alternatives include softer fabric or inflatable collars, body wraps or clothing, and socks or booties.

-- Plastic surgery for pets? It’s a thing, but not in the way that you’re thinking. Bella and Beau don’t need Botox for wrinkles or saggy jowls, but reconstructive surgery can improve a short-faced dog’s ability to breathe, improve vision in dogs with eyelid abnormalities such as entropion or ectropion, and help prevent urinary tract infections in dogs with an inverted vulva. These are often heritable defects, so acquiring a dog from a reputable breeder is a good start to avoiding them, but your veterinarian can often improve quality of life with surgery if necessary. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Know how to respond if your dog is bitten by a snake, as well as how to prevent bites

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Bandit, a Jack Russell terrier in California, was fighting for his life after being bitten in the face by a rattlesnake. The location of the bite posed a significant challenge for the dog’s survival, his veterinarian said.

Depending on where you are in the country, it’s not too early to start thinking about snake encounters if you and your dog enjoy the outdoors. A mild and wet winter across the country has snakes ready to leave hibernation and start eating and breeding.

According to a study by California and Colorado researchers published in the journal Clinical Toxicology in 2018, snakebites peaked following rainy seasons and were at their lowest during drought periods. Rain brings more prey for snakes, and a plentiful food source encourages them to mate.

That means people and pets are more likely to run into them in backyards and on hiking trails. Arizona and California officials have already begun issuing snake warnings.

The good news is that snakes do their best to avoid encounters with humans or dogs.

The bad news is that a bite even from a nonvenomous snake can be painful and lead to infections, says Jason Nicholas, DVM, chief medical officer of PreventiveVet.com. And the toxin from venomous snakes creates blood-clotting abnormalities in dogs, as well as potential secondary bacterial infections from the puncture wound.

Many dogs are bitten on the face or neck after sticking their noses where they don’t belong. “That’s the worst place to get bitten,” Dr. Nicholas says. The inflammation can cause swelling around the airway, making it difficult for the dog to breathe.

No matter where on the body a dog is bitten, keep him still. Carry him to reduce the rate at which the venom circulates through the bloodstream, or have him walk slowly if he’s too big to carry. Running can potentially make matters worse, Nicholas says. Get him to the veterinarian right away.

Bandit’s owner Jill-Marie Jones heard the snake rattling and saw that her dog’s head was tilted and his face was swelling. “We blasted to the vet, and on my way, I called and made sure they had the antivenin and were ready to go. The catheter and meds were started probably not even 15 minutes after he was bitten,” she says.

For rattlesnake or other venomous snake bites, a veterinary emergency hospital is the best choice unless you know your veterinarian stocks antivenin. It’s a good thing to check if you and your dog spend a lot of time outdoors in snake country.

“It’s not cheap, but it can be a significant component of treatment and decrease the overall time that a pet would maybe need to stay in the ICU and decrease complications resulting from the bite,” Nicholas says.

If you live in an area where snakes are common, it’s important to teach your dog to avoid them. This can be done with a strong “leave it,” “wait,” “look here” or “come” cue. You can also work with an experienced trainer who performs snake-aversion training. This is often done with an electronic collar set on low, but some trainers use positive reinforcement techniques to teach “leave it” or “watch me” behaviors in the presence of a snake or other hazard.

When you see a snake -- venomous or not -- leave it alone. Wherever you live, snakes are important to the ecosystem. They help to keep down disease and property or crop damage by eating mice, rats and other rodents and are themselves prey for other animals. Venomous snakes encountered in your home or yard should be removed and relocated by a professional snake handler. Learn the species in your area so you’ll know which snakes are harmless.

Bandit was hit hard by the bite. His veterinarian confessed that he’d thought the 10-year-old dog had no chance. But antivenin, IV antibiotics and intensive supportive care saved his life.

Q&A

What does ‘pet

quality’ mean?

Q: I’m buying a pedigreed kitten, and the breeder is recommending one she says is “pet-quality,” since I don’t plan to show her. Is that a good idea? I’m paying a lot of money, so I don’t want one who’s not as good as the others.

A: Just because a kitten is “pet-quality” doesn’t mean that he or she is second-rate. It simply means that the kitten isn’t suitable for the show ring or for breeding. That can be for any number of reasons, usually cosmetic. Her markings might not be perfect, or her eyes might not be the exact shade that makes a kitten or cat stand out to a judge. Factors that can be important in the show ring include size, symmetry, coat length, and depth of eye or coat color.

In Norwegian forest cats, for instance, a head profile with a slight dip instead of being perfectly straight can make all the difference. Flaws that prevent an Abyssinian or Somali from being show-quality include tabby stripes on the legs, necklace lines on the neck, coloring that looks cool instead of warm, a kink in the tail or eyes that are almond-shaped instead of round. For Russian blues, basic disqualifiers are the wrong eye color, a white locket on the throat, lack of silver tipping or poor ear placement. A sparse, patchy coat without the right texture can put Devon rex cats out of the show-ring running.

It’s not always a cosmetic flaw. Sometimes breeders have too many kittens from a certain bloodline and can’t use them all in a show or breeding program, so some get “petted out.”

None of these things detract from a kitten’s health or ability to be a great pet, so take a pet-quality kitten home with no fear. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pets do not

spread COVID-19

-- Although a pet dog in China was found to have developed a low-level infection of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the novel coronavirus) through contact with his owner, the dog has not developed any illness. Health experts say that dogs and cats who contract the virus are unlikely to become sick themselves or to transmit it to other humans or animals. It’s fine to keep snuggling with your pets -- especially if you’re anxious about catching the virus yourself -- but any time you are sick with anything, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends having someone else care for your animals.

-- You probably know that the sweetener xylitol is highly toxic to pets. What you might not know is all the different types of products in which it’s found. When you’re shopping, check labels for xylitol in peanut and other nut butters; protein bars; toothpaste (one of the reasons not to brush pets’ teeth with toothpaste for humans), even if it’s labeled “natural”; chewing gum; candy; mints; antacids; melatonin; flavored fish oil supplements; sleep aids; chewable vitamins and probiotics; and even body butters and moisturizers that your pet might lick off your skin. Check anything that’s flavored or labeled as sugar-free.

-- The world’s first cloned cat has died at age 18 from kidney failure. CC, short for Copy Cat, was born Dec. 21, 2001, at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and was adopted by Dr. Duane Kraemer and his wife Shirley, with whom she spent her entire life. Beyond being a beloved pet, CC proved that cloning could effectively produce a healthy animal capable of living a full life and producing offspring. CC had one litter of three kittens, all of whom were kept by the Kraemers. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Can your cat with FIP be treated? The news is hopeful

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Coronaviruses -- named for the crownlike spikes on their surface -- are in the news, not just for humans but also for cats. Some 40% to 80% of cats in the world are infected with feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), which typically causes no signs or only mild gastrointestinal upset. Sometimes, though, FECV mutates, causing a complex, devastating and nearly always fatal disease of cats called feline infectious peritonitis. It’s most commonly seen in cats who have been exposed to large numbers of other cats, such as in shelters or catteries.

A year ago, if your cat had been diagnosed with FIP, your veterinarian probably would have said, “I’m sorry; your cat is going to die.” Today, what clients with FIP-diagnosed cats are hearing is, “There’s a treatment: It’s complicated, but it appears to work, and it has revolutionized the approach to treating this disease.”

Why is it complicated? The drug used in the study is not FDA-approved in the United States, and it is unavailable from the manufacturer.

The experimental drug was found to be effective in a study funded by Winn Feline Foundation at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, by researcher Niels Pedersen, DVM, who has studied FIP for decades in search of a treatment or cure. Out of 31 cats treated, 25 still survive.

“Some of these cats were treated over three years ago and are still disease-free,” says Drew Weigner, DVM, a feline specialist who practices in Atlanta and is president of Winn Feline Foundation, which supports cat health research.

The drug that was studied, GS-441524, is made by Gilead Sciences; the company was in the news recently regarding remdesivir, a related drug it makes that is being made available experimentally to fight the COVID-19 coronavirus in humans. Gilead does not supply the drug for FIP treatment, but it did make it available for the UC Davis study. GS, as it’s known for short, is a nucleoside analog, which works by preventing the virus from replicating.

Another treatment, Mutian, also sold under other names, claims to be the same as GS, but there’s no independent verification of that, Dr. Weigner says. Companies that sell Mutian and similar drugs for treatment of FIP say thousands of cats have been treated successfully. The problem, Dr. Weigner says, is that there’s no independent confirmation that the cats being given the drug actually have FIP or confirmation of the numbers of cats who survive.

“That said, there are many, many anecdotal reports on the internet of people who have obtained this drug and used it on their cats and their cats survived,” he says.

Mutian and similar drugs are expensive. Depending on the size of the cat, the type of FIP -- which affects cats in “wet” or “dry” forms -- and the source from which it’s purchased, Mutian’s cost can range from $1,600 to $8,000 for a 12-week course of the drug, which comes in oral or injectable forms.

It’s available online only, not from your neighborhood veterinarian. Because Mutian and drugs like it aren’t FDA-approved, it’s illegal for veterinarians to prescribe them. Some veterinarians won’t treat cats with them, so owners do it themselves at home, obtaining guidance from educational communities such as Facebook groups FIP Warriors and FIP Treatment with Mutian (search the group names on Facebook.com), Sock FIP (sockfip.org) and Zen by Cat (zenbycat.org). Other veterinarians may be unaware of the drugs’ existence and potential to help cats with FIP.

“It is important to get the message out to veterinarians that there are products out there that can be used to treat and cure cats with FIP,” says Vicki Thayer, DVM, who participated in last November’s FIP symposium at UC Davis. “They can choose to support clients and cats through the process.”

The takeaway? Here’s what Dr. Weigner says:

-- FIP is now considered treatable.

-- The treatment’s rate of effectiveness is at least 70%.

-- Efforts are underway to develop safe, effective, cost-effective drugs in the United States.

Q&A

Fennec fox facts

for pet owners

Q: I saw a picture of a fennec fox on Facebook. So cute! I’ve heard that some people keep them as pets. Is that a good idea?

A: There’s no doubt that fennec foxes are cute, with that tiny body (they’re about the size of a Chihuahua, weighing 2 to 4 pounds) and those enormous ears. Vulpes zerda (the scientific name) is the smallest member of the dog family. But small doesn’t necessarily equate to family friendly. I’m not a fan of keeping wild animals as pets, and despite their small size, fennec foxes are undoubtedly wild animals. While they might become tame, they are wired to live and behave in certain ways and can’t be domesticated.

Fennec foxes are crepuscular, meaning they are typically active at dawn and twilight. Those may be the times of day they are most energetic and playful. They enjoy digging and have been known to excavate deep holes, perhaps in search of the insects and rodents that those big ears tell them are underground. Their diet in the wild features insects, rodents, reptiles and vegetation.

Being desert animals, fennec foxes enjoy napping in the sun. They have scent glands that can cause them to have a musky odor. Although they are members of the dog family (Canidae), they have many catlike qualities, including making a purring sound and engaging in mutual grooming. But because they aren’t domesticated, their behavior can be unpredictable.

The tiny wild dogs live 10 to 14 years, so they are a long-term commitment. Keeping one may involve acquiring certain licenses or permits -- or it may even be illegal where you live. And you’ll need to make sure a veterinarian knowledgeable about treating exotic animals practices nearby so you can have expert advice on health, diet and vaccinations. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Burns, smoke

affect heart

-- Cats who suffered burns and smoke inhalation in California wildfires had a high incidence of heart problems, according to a new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Of 51 cats treated at UC Davis, more than half had heart muscle thickening, and nearly 30% had blood clots or were at high risk of developing blood clots, putting them at greater risk of sudden death. Even cats with only moderate burns had severe heart changes. Further research could help establish a better understanding of how burns can affect both human and feline patients, more effective treatment and prevention of cardiovascular changes. “We also know that these cats inhaled smoke in a very urban environment, exposing them to toxicants,” said lead author Catherine Gunther-Harrington, assistant professor of clinical cardiology at UC Davis VMTH. “These cats could be the canary in the coal mine, letting us know what might happen if more people are exposed to these types of wildfires.”

-- Is the coronavirus that causes FIP related to COVID-19, the new coronavirus disease of animal origin that is infecting humans? Some pet owners wonder whether it can be passed between pets and people. “There is no evidence at this point that COVID-19 is contagious to cats or that people could get COVID-19 from their cat,” says Drew Weigner, DVM. The viruses that cause COVID-19 and FIP are different and cause different types of signs. In humans, COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease. In cats, FIP affects multiple organs and often causes intestinal disease and intestinal symptoms.

-- Dogs’ noses can sniff out more than odors. They can also sense weak thermal radiation -- like that given off by prey, for instance. They join a select group of other animals with this ability: black fire beetles, certain snakes and common vampire bats. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.