A tiger at the Bronx zoo tested positive for COVID-19, and you’ve heard about studies from Belgium, Hong Kong and China about ferrets, cats, and dogs testing positive for the virus. Based on information from these reports, the CDC and AVMA have recommended a) caring for pets of COVID-19 hospitalized patients in their homes, b) having people make emergency plans for friends/family to care for their pets if they get sick, and c) having shelters wait 14 days before fostering or rehoming pets known to be exposed out of an abundance of caution.
Although Cornell University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory does have the capability to run PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 virus in companion animal samples, this test is not available for common use, with few exceptions as determined by the NYS state veterinarian and NYS Ag and Markets.
- The resources used to test animals are needed for testing people. Swabs, PCR reagents, and in some cases, veterinary laboratory equipment are needed for human testing.
- Testing an animal requires close contact between people for handling and restraint, increases exposure of those testing to animal secretions, and necessitates increased use of valuable PPE.
- With so few cases of positive, ill, or affected animals reported, even top veterinary scientists struggle with how to interpret the test results. Does negative mean safe? Does positive mean shedding? We don’t know. This lack of knowledge could lead to drastic actions such as shelter surrender or euthanasia of a healthy animals that pose little to no risk to people in its home or facility.
If you have a COVID-exposed animal in your care showing signs of upper respiratory disease or gastroenteritis, the recommendation is to follow the usual infectious disease protocols, including isolation, treatment, and supportive care. Only perform diagnostic testing for more common animal diseases if absolutely necessary (see 1 and 2 above), using extreme care when collecting and handling animal samples.
So, should companion animals exposed to COVID-19 who must come into your shelter be tested? The answer is no. If you are a NYS veterinarian or researcher and have a very special circumstance in which you believe that testing an animal for COVID-19 is appropriate, please see the attached document about contacting the State Veterinarian and State Public Health Veterinarian to request permission.
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