A two-year old pug in Chapel Hill is the first US dog to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes human COVID-19. If you’re a regular visitor to this channel, this is no surprise. Over a month ago we discussed the fact that dogs and other companion animals could test positive for coronavirus and yet pose no known threat of spreading the disease to humans. That’s still true today. Let's discuss what this latest development means for pet parents and guidelines to keep your pets safe from COVID-19.

Pet parents are increasingly worried that their cat could potentially contract COVID-19 when visiting their veterinarian for exams and vaccinations. Now is the time for veterinary professionals to create practical strategies and policies to keep our pet patients safe from potential SARS-CoV-2 exposure within our clinics. It’s time to think beyond curbside service and accept this “new abnormal” as the “new normal,” at least until we have a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment. The fact is that even after we have a human coronavirus vaccine, we’ll still need to take precautions to protect animals, especially cats and ferrets, from contracting or serving as potential reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2. Let’s discuss some steps many of our colleagues are already implementing and how to comfort clients concerned about visiting for annual exams and vaccines.

Dr. Ernie Ward shares his observations and advice for veterinary professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Will the ability to test dogs, cats, and ferrets for the COVID-19 virus bring comfort or confusion to pet parents? As with nearly everything related to COVID-19, it’s complicated, complex, and downright confusing. Let me explain why I think this is a good move for Idexx, and how it may help slow the spread of COVID-19.

A new study concludes cats can be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. They can also spread the coronavirus to other cats, at least according to a small research study from China published March 31, 2020. There is no evidence that cats (or dogs) can transmit the virus to people, other than serving as an accidental fomite, in the same way you could potentially contract COVID-19 from a contaminated door handle or handrail. The overwhelming consensus is that our pets pose no particular threat to infecting us with the novel coronavirus. What is most interesting about this latest research and a recent feline case study from Belgium is that cats appear to be able to become infected and exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. This isn’t a surprise for veterinarians; cats were weakly susceptible to SARS, the human coronavirus that caused a global pandemic in 2003, and no evidence of cat-to-human transmission was found. This is different than dogs, a species that, based on all scientific evidence, cannot actively infect other dogs (or people) or experience COVID-19 symptoms.

The week of March 15-21 saw America wake up in flashing red lights to the potential scale of the COVID-19 crisis, and take unprecedented steps to cope, contain and, hopefully, turn the tide. Veterinary medicine engaged in policy and operational debates, and decisions, at all levels. The profession and industry focused on ensuring that governmental designations of “essential services or business” include veterinary clinics, and to preserving supply chains for personal protective equipment (PPE).

The current coronavirus outbreak is changing daily life for billions of people around the world. In addition to crashing economic markets, disrupting supplies and goods, and impeding access to basic services and entertainment, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing us to rethink how we work, what we eat, how and we interact socially. I believe the current coronavirus pandemic will serve as a catalyst for both human and veterinary telemedicine, a progression I’ve long supported. I’d like to share with you the factors influencing this movement, why every veterinary clinic should consider implementing some form of telemedicine, and what the immediate future holds for veterinary telemedicine.

The novel coronavirus infection, Covid-19, is raising epidemic alarms, creating economic uncertainty, and generating questions about employer and employee responsibilities and obligations. Having owned veterinary practices during both the SARS and H1N1 swine flu pandemics, I’ve experienced first-hand these legal, ethical, and health challenges firsthand. While the current coronavirus pandemic is potentially much more severe and wide-reaching than earlier disease outbreaks, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the research and resources we used to navigate these turbulent times.

A recent report from Hong Kong revealed a dog living with a novel coronavirus infection (Covid-19) patient had tested “weakly positive” for SARS-CoV-19, sending pet parents panicking for pet-sized facemasks. Since that news broke, veterinarians around the world have been inundated with calls, texts, and social media questions about whether or not dogs or cats can get coronavirus or spread it to humans. The science is pretty clear: It’s highly unlikely that your pet can get COVID-19 or spread it to people. While I remain completely comfortable cuddling with my pets, there remains some concern and cause for general precautions.

If you’re like me, you fell in love with Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild” as a child. If you haven’t read this classic along with “White Fang” do yourself a favor and read the books, then see the movies. Disney recently released the latest trailer for “The Call of the Wild” starring everyone’s favorite Han Solo, Harrison Ford. What makes this adaptation interesting to me is that Disney chose to make Ford’s canine costar, Buck, a 140-pound Saint Bernard Collie mix, completely computer generated. This follows a trend of augmenting and now replacing live animals with some very realistic CGI. As a veterinarian and a sucker for a good animal flick, I thought I’d share with you some of the reasons why this is happening and what the potential long term impact for animals may be.