Your Dog Cannot Get COVID-19 but Here’s What You Should Know

As if we needed further proof that dogs are the best, we were delighted to learn that, in fact, our dogs cannot contract or spread the COVID-19 Coronavirus that has been categorized now as a global pandemic.

At Cali Raw, we not only consider our own pets as family members, but we also consider the hundreds of dogs that benefit from our raw dog food formulas as members of our extended family. So, the news lately left us with a lot of questions about how to keep our pets safe.

As our human society in the U.S. is just beginning to come to terms with a major disruption in our way of life due to this highly contagious, and potentially deadly respiratory illness, a lone headline out of Hong Kong opened up a whole new avenue of anxiety for dog owners worldwide when it was reported that a Pomeranian there had tested positive for the virus.

The dog’s owner tested positive for COVID-19 and when health officials swabbed the doggo, they detected a “weak positive” in it as well. It turns out that any fear of our furry friends becoming un-pet-able are mostly unsubstantiated as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and the American Veterinary Medical Association has seen no evidence that our pets can come down with this strain of the Coronavirus.

On their website, WOAH sums it up by stating, “There is no evidence that dogs play a role in the spread of this human disease or that they become sick,” and “there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals which may compromise their welfare.”

Whew! That’s a relief!

If your dog is already feeling great - especially if they are on an all-natural, species-appropriate diet that encourages a healthy gut biome – the best thing that you can do for them is to take care of yourself in these trying times. Your dog just wants and needs you at your best!

It makes sense that some of the best hygiene practices that responsible pet owners have been using forever are now being applied to us people – let’s take a look.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Social Distancing is a new term in most Americans' lexicons these days, but it is pretty self-explanatory. Since we know that COVID-19 spreads easily from people to people, or from the surface to human contact, our government officials are now encouraging (or in some cases mandating) that we severely limit our close interactions with other people.

For the time being, it is probably best to do so with your dog as well. No, you do not have to stay away from your dog, but rather you should limit your dog’s contact with other people for the next few months at least. Non-essential vet visits or mass transit travel should be rescheduled if possible.

The reason being, even though we are relatively confident that dogs cannot fall ill from or transmit COVID-19 to us, humans, in the traditional sense, this study from researchers at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine reveals that they can still act as a giant furry countertop or door handle and be literally carrying the virus on the surface of their fur or nose.

Keep them clean and close to home and, of course, make sure you are regularly…

WASHING YOUR HANDS

This is a no-brainer for those of us in the raw dog food community – wash your hands often and thoroughly to prevent the spread of any sort of virus or infection. It is sort of amazing that we needed the federal government to tell so many adults to do this, but it is a big deal these days and once again we are already ahead of the curve.  

BEING PREPARED

As we humans for some reason trample one another for toilet paper, our pups truly just need the bare necessities at times like these. Unfortunately, it seems that humans will horde anything and there are reports nationwide of dog food shortages in pet stores... but not here at Cali Raw!

Of course, this is a perfect time to make the switch to a fresh raw dog food delivery service like Cali Raw but if nothing else, we would strongly encourage you to make sure that your dogs’ needs are accounted for in whatever emergency preparedness planning you may have in place.

Multiple leashes, food/water bowls, and at least two weeks of food and medications are a good start, but I know if I forgot Sky’s purple ball I’d be in trouble so only you know best what your dog will desire/demand.

The next few weeks and months will almost certainly be difficult for most of us but we can make it through anything with our dogs by our sides!

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If we can help make your life a bit less difficult by shipping pre-portioned, balanced, health-boosting meals directly to you, CONTACT US today.

If you are already a Cali Raw customer, we will be offering a curbside pickup from our office in Newport Beach for the foreseeable future. We promise we will not pet your pup, as much as we may want to ;) Just call us as you are arriving and we will make it super easy for you... and your dog too!