-
AFP
—
1/5
Can pets get Corona?
—-
Zvg
—
2/5
“So far we can largely rule this out for dogs,” says veterinarian Achim Gruber (54).
—-
AFP
—
3/5
It would be different with cats. “The situation is somewhat less clear for cats at the moment, but it is by no means a cause for concern.”
—-
keystone-sda.ch
—
4/5
The expert can reassure concerned pet owners. Stroking is still allowed.
—-
unsplash.com / Aditya Joshi
—
5/5
However, as usual, people with severe immunodeficiency should be careful. You should always keep more distance from animals.
—-
—-
Concern for beloved pets is understandable during the coronavirus pandemic, says veterinarian Achim Gruber, head of animal pathology at the Free University of Berlin. «Because it’s about the health of the animals themselves. And because the animal is suspected of infecting humans. »
–
What do we know so far about the role of pets in the corona crisis?
–
There was an incredible amount of pet suffering in the Chinese city of Wuhan – but none of this had anything to do with infections caused by the new corona virus. Around 50,000 dogs are said to have walked around abandoned at times because their owners were in the hospital or otherwise no longer looked after them. Many may have starved to death. Pets have also been thrown out of the windows of high-rise buildings due to sheer stress.
–
Can pets get the new virus?
–
So far, we can largely rule this out for dogs. The situation is somewhat less clear for cats at the moment, but it is by no means a cause for concern.
–
Can I still cuddle with my pet?
–
If an animal is well protected, i.e. regularly dewormed and vaccinated, from a medical point of view, there is no great risk at all – cuddling is allowed. However, as usual, people with severe immunodeficiency should be careful. You should always keep more distance from animals.
–
Are there any deficits when it comes to hygiene and animals – regardless of Corona?
–
In any case. I’m thinking of exotic animals in children’s rooms. With poor hygiene, reptiles drive sweat beads on the forehead of some pediatricians, for example due to salmonella infections. The parents first clean the lizard’s terrarium and then stroke or feed the baby without washing their hands beforehand. This can be fatal – for the baby.
–
And there are many other pathogens that are significantly more dangerous for dogs and cats and humans than the new virus. In cats, for example, it is toxoplasmosis, which can be bad for immunocompromised people and also for unborn children due to infections of pregnant women. In dogs there are a number of bad parasite infections such as fox tapeworm, oriental eye worm and new tongue or nose worm. Dogs can die from the fox tapeworm. And people to whom this parasite is transmitted can also die from it. (SDA)
—
Related
