At this time, experts believe it is very unlikely. The World Health Organization currently advises that there is no evidence to suggest that dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.

• There is no evidence that dogs’ health is impacted by COVID-19
• There is no evidence that dogs can catch and transmit COVID-19 to humans

The CDC  LINK have issued advisories saying there is no evidence at this time that companion animals can spread the COVID-19 virus to people.

The WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) Global Veterinary Community  LINK—an association representing more than 200,000 veterinarians—also states that the evidence strongly indicates that COVID-19 cannot be contracted from pets. The association does, however, caution that there is still much we don’t know and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

The WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE)LINK has stated that the current spread of COVID-19 is a result of human to human transmission. To date, there is no evidence that companion animals play a significant a role in spreading the disease. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals which may compromise their welfare.

A new statement issued by the Pancyprian Veterinary Association (PVA) LINK and the Cyprus Veterinary Council (CVC) That there is no available scientific peer-reviewed data, to indicate that domesticated animals in proximity to COVID-19 positive humans, can be infected and transmit the disease to other animals or humans.

It is thought that COVID-19 originated in an animal market in China, and that the original source was likely to be some type of wildlife. Although it is believed that the virus jumped from an animal to a human, it does not mean that all animals can spread the virus. Currently there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted through dogs.

No. There have been no cases of dogs becoming unwell from this new type of coronavirus.

If your dog is unwell then it is very unlikely that COVID-19 is the cause of their illness, but it is still important that you contact your vet to find out what is causing their illness.

Coronavirus are a large group of viruses and there are many different types. The new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) is currently being passed between humans and there is no evidence that it affects dogs. There are certain strains of coronavirus that do affect dogs (such as Canine Respiratory Coronavirus), but these are different from COVID-19 and cannot be passed to humans.

No. There is no evidence that dogs or cats can transmit COVID-19 to people or get sick from it. There has been no case in the world of COVID-19 transmitting from a stray dog or cat to humans.

Yes, the latest Government decree and information from the government allows for one person to accompany your dog on a walk on lead. Households with two or more adults can take it in turns to walk their dog, take your dog out as close to your home as possible. Keep your dog on a lead to and maintain appropriate distance, as long as social distance is maintained between people and dogs. If two adults live in the same home, then they could each walk the dog separately. You must practice social distancing though, and keep at least three metres away from other people and thier dogs. Keep your dog on a lead around others and in public places and thoroughly wash your hands before leaving, and as soon as you get home again.

Dogs can be let out in the garden, or taken out to the toilet as needed. If you don’t have a private garden, just make sure these trips are as quick as possible and ensure you maintain your social distance.

The virus is most commonly passed from person to person through coughing and sneezing. There is evidence that the virus can live on surfaces for some time, depending on the type of material, temperature and other factors.

The virus cannot be transmitted through feces either. However, it is of utmost importance, both for public health and respecting our communities, that you pick up your dog’s waste and discard it responsibly. Do ensure to wash your hands every time before and after you interact with your dog and its belongings and make sure to sanitize all surfaces in your house.

There is no need to give up or quarantine thier dogs and we would urge owners not to panic. Dogs can be a great source of comfort, and a daily dog walk (following the guidelines above) will be a good thing for everyone’s physical and mental health.

Anyone who is vulnerable or elderly, with underlying health conditions, should be especially stringent and stay indoors even if they do not show any symptoms.

The most important thing is that you follow any rules and regulations as set by the government with regards to leaving the house and keeping safe. If allowed by goverment regulations to take your dog for a walk and you are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, you can still walk your dog.

Although there is no evidence that pets can transmit the disease, we’d advise taking sensible precautions until more is known. It’s possible that the virus could be passed onto other people via a pet’s fur, as on any surface. We’d suggest not interacting with pets owned by people who might themselves be self-isolating, just in case. If this is unavoidable, ensure you wash your hands after any contact.

No. You should only socialise with people you are already living with. If you see someone you know when you are on your walk, including other dog owners, stay at least three metres apart, if possible stay completely away from the other person and thier dog,  avoid petting their dog and wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.

Irrespective of the pandemic we need to acknowledge the fact that, no matter how well trained our dog is, there will always be that possibility for a situation to happen which you have not trained him for, and sometimes the consequences could be quite devastating. So, before you decide to unleash your dog, remember the importance of leashes and how they give you greater control when meeting up with other dogs. You might be saying, “Don’t worry, my dog is very friendly.” Yes, that may be true. But what about the other dogs you meet? When in doubt, use a leash. It is always best to be safe than sorry.

Your dog may see a cat or decide to chase another dog and run across the road , do you really want to risk your dogs life or the drivers life that may try avoid hitting him and end up getting seriously hurt? better keep him on a leash for everyone’s safety.

No even before the pandemic, you are not allowed to let your dog off lead in public areas, especially now It's important to keep at least three metres apart from others and avoid situations where your dog might approach and greet other people or dogs. This means walking your dog on a leash when in areas with other people or other dogs. Where dogs are not used to walking on a lead, keeping their attention on you with praise and rewards can help make walks a positive experience.

We appreciate how difficult a time this must be for you, especially as you are trying to avoid highly populated areas when taking your dog for a walk. Government guidelines say you should limit contact with others completely. Your dog will appreciate any time outside, however short.

Consider how you can keep your dog’s walk interesting.

You could try mapping out a slightly different route in advance to give your dog a chance to experience new sights and smells. A fallen tree, bench or even a bus stop can be made into fun for your dog by getting them to jump over, circle around or just place their paws on them in return for a treat. Make sure anything you ask your dog to stand on is low to the ground and sturdy enough to keep them having a fun and safe time. Try giving your dog a different trick or action for them to do at every lamppost, tree, post box, etc, rewarding them with a treat or quick game.

Follow the goverment instructions

If you are at home because you have shown signs of coronavirus (persistent cough or high temperature etc.) then you should keep your dog in as well and only exercise them in the house or garden. If you live by yourself this should be for 14 days from when your symptoms started. This is not ideal, but you need to keep yourself and others well and safe and follow the instructions given to you by the goverments health advisors

If you have a problem taking care of your dog because of not being able to go out then immediate look into sending the dog to a friends or relatives house temporarily

Dogs will continue to need physical activity. Therefore, you should keep the time allotted for walking to carry out physical activity, but you should replace the walk with play. For example: a ball game in the backyard or if you live in apartment, you can create new games with new toys or you can try to enrich the environment with hidden treats so that your dog does not get bored.

It is possible for your pet to track virus back into the house if COVID-19 is present on the street -- because an infected person has coughed or spit on the street. The same happens with your shoes, which is why it is recommended to have “street shoes”, and change to “house shoes” as soon as you get home. You may want to wash your dog’s paws with pet safe soap and water after each walk. Do not use alcohol or household disinfectants on animals, as it can harm their skin. Daily bathing is not recommended for dogs, but follow instructions on the animal shampoo bottle and keep them clean and well-groomed on a daily basis.

There is no evidence of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from dogs, However even if your dog is healthy, sterilised, vaccinated against rabies, and your community is tolerant of free roaming dogs you should never allow your pet dog to roam freely as there are many dangers for a free roaming dog, such as poison, being hit by a vehicle, getting into a dog fight or even being killed by someone who has a fear of dogs.

Inlight of the current pandemic your dog will be in even more danger as it might be the case that because of lack of knowledge and awareness on the nature of coronavirus, communities across the world are currently unsure and afraid of free roaming dogs. We ALWAYS highly recommend that restriction is applied in terms of letting your dog roam freely so as to ensure its safety.

NO in this case you should not leave your home, so this would include taking your dog for a walk. If you have a private garden then you can take your dog there to go the toilet and to play games. If you donot have a garden then it would be best to arrange that a friend or relative take the dog temprarily until you are allowed to go out

Follow the goverments instructions and information provided as strict as possible as this will save lives

No, There is no evidence that dogs or cats can transmit COVID-19 to people or get sick from it. Putting a mask on your pet isn’t something we’d recommend. Wearing a face mask could be distressing for pets and may affect their ability to breathe normally, particularly in flat-faced breeds (pugs, bulldogs, etc), which already have labored breathing, can suffer from heatstroke with a mask. Putting masks on them can interfere with their breathing and cause them stress.

To help stop the virus spreading, make sure you wash your hands with warm water and soap (especially before and after handling your pet and their food).

We would recommend ensuring you have a 14-day supply of dog food at all times and planning ahead with your food shop as you would for other essentials. If you are self-isolating and need dog food, ask a friend or neighbour to collect it for you and leave it on your doorstep. 

Should there be a shortage of your dog’s usual food, owners may need to change food brands. We would advise, if possible, changing this gradually over a few days. If your dog has a medical condition requiring a specific diet, then taking guidance from your veterinary surgeon for details and tips on how to do this and what foods are most suitable for your dog. For general canine nutrition advice and details on poisonous foods to avoid   please see this information

Although it’s not been proven, it may be possible for the Covid-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) to be carried on pet fur, and for this reason, it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly after touching, feeding or cleaning up after you pet. It’s also important to ensure your pets are kept separate from other people, pets and households.

Hand sanitisers contain ‘ethanol’ (alcohol),  can be harmful and deadly if ingested in a large quantity (i.e. an entire bottle), but it evaporates quickly and IS NOT HARMFUL if it’s licked in small quantities from your skin, or your pet’s fur. Always be caitious with hand sanitisers and leave them out of your dogs reach.

Yes. It is possible that a person with COVID-19 could sneeze or otherwise contaminate their pet, and then another individual could touch that animal and contract the disease. Veterinary experts believe the risk for transmission would be low. However, animals living with sick individuals should be kept away from other people and animals (quarantined at home), just as people who live with sick individuals must avoid contact with others. It is recommended that you restrict contact with pets if you are sick with COVID-19, just as you would restrict your contact with other people. Avoid snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must interact with your pet, wash your hands before and after, and wear a face mask. The main reason is to avoid infecting the dogs hair with droplets that some one else could get from stroking your dog.

Identify another person in your household who is willing and able to care for your pet in your home should you contract COVID-19. Make sure you have an emergency kit prepared, with at least two weeks’ worth of your pet’s food and any needed medications. Usually, we think about emergency kits like this in terms of what might be needed for an evacuation, but it’s also good to have one prepared in the case of quarantine or self-isolation when you cannot leave your home.

It is unfortunate that due to misplaced fear, people abandon animals or even euthanize them.  As we have mentioned, there is no evidence that dogs or cats can get sick from COVID-19 or spread the disease to humans. The best way to prevent the disease is hand washing, responsible coughing/sneezing, wiping surfaces with disinfectant, and social distancing. Abandoning or killing animals causes suffering to the animals, feeds a cycle of misplaced panic, is cruel and unethical, and does not resolve the pandemic.

Dogs have been shown to be a great company and may even decrease stress levels and suicidal tendencies, something that can be extremely positive during the current pandemic lockdown. We highly recommend all pet owners take care of their animals and keep calm. Abandonment should not be an option in any circumstance. Be a responsible owner, continue giving love, care and attention to your pet.

There is currently no evidence that pets can become sick from COVID-19, so it’s highly unlikely they are at risk. There is also no evidence that companion animals can transmit Covid-19 to people either, however it’s possible that the virus may survive on pets’ fur for a short time, as with other surfaces. The situation is changing rapidly though, and more is being discovered about this new virus as time goes on. Until more is known, it’s sensible to take precautionary measures to protect our pets.

We’d advise minimising contact with your pet as much as possible while you are sick. Maintaining good hygiene practices is always sensible, such as washing your hands with hot water and soap before and after handling and feeding.

Make sure you have a plan of who can look after your dog in the event you get really ill.

There is no need for your pet to stay somewhere else during this time. However, when self-isolating on medical advice, you will need to make sure your pets continue to be properly looked after. If this will be challenging then you could consider asking someone else to look after your pet during this time.

If your pet is staying with you, try to minimise contact as much as possible. Yes, this means avoiding snuggling or cuddling as much as possible until you are better! We know this is difficult, so it may help to have another person in your household take on the day-to-day care of your pet while you are ill. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands before and after touching your pet, their food or other pet related items, or when disposing of their waste, and follow all other government self-isolation guidelines. The main reason is that if you or someone in your house has symptoms or Covid-19 then you don’t want to be transferring the virus via your pets fur if everyone is touching you family pet.

A friend or relative may be able to care for your dog for you if you have symptoms, or are vulnerable or elderly, but let them know in advance if you are self-isolating and follow strict government guidelines when handing over your dog, maintaining social distancing measures and a distance of at least 3 meters when handing over your dog to a friend or relative and ask them to bring their own lead. Always wash your hands before and after handling your dog and preparing their food, and ask whoever cares for your dog to do so as well.
If you are unwell and have no-one else in your household able to look after your dog, contact your friends and family or a neighbour to see if they can help. If you are self-isolating, you should not go out at all.
It’s a good idea to create a plan in advance should you find yourself unable to take care of your beloved dog.
If you need help with shopping pet food you could try setting up a WhatsApp group to build a connection with other dog owners in your neighbourhood who could help to pick up essentials such as picking up dog food on a trip to the supermarket. Local Authorities or community groups may be providing additional support.
If that’s not possible, you might want to contact your local boarding kennels to see if they have space available.
If you’ve moved recently or changed your phone number, ensure these details are up to date on your dog’s microchip.:
You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick.

Do ensure that somebody can take care of your animal if you are hospitalised. Some dogs may become nervous, anxious, and even aggressive if they feel unsafe at a new place, so it would be better for somebody to feed and play with them in the pet´s own home. However, if there is lockdown and depending on the goverments instructions at the time, the best thing to do is to have someone (preferably individual that dog is already familiar with) take the pet to a new temporary home where it will be better taken care of as soon as you feel you are showing symptoms of the illness as if the illness progresses aggressivly you may not have time to do it later.

Pets have been shown to be a great company and may even decrease stress levels and suicidal tendencies, something that can be extremely positive during the current pandemic lockdown. We highly recommend all pet owners take care of their animals and keep calm. Abandonment should not be an option in any circumstance. Be a responsible owner, continue giving love, care and attention to your pet.

Although there have been no reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. This can help ensure both you and your animals stay healthy. There is still much to be learned about COVID-19 and more information will become available as the time passes.  If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask. 

All veterinary practices are now required to limit face-to-face contact with clients. This means running an emergency care and emergency prescription service only.

Recommendations for the operation of Veterinary Clinics
Starting from today 24/03/2020 at 18:00 until 30 April at 06:00, Veterinary Clinics will only work to deal with emergencies and specific veterinary acts, following prior telephone consultation with your veterinarian. Visits should be limited to what is strictly necessary in such a way to comply with the instructions of the Ministry of Health (restriction of movements, 1 customer per 8 square meters of useful area of the waiting area). Where possible, animals should not accompany their guardians and if that is necessary, the rule
of one guardian per pet, should be applied. Clinic staff, should be limited to the minimun possible (safety personnel only). Doors should be closed for public and all clinics should not operate for activities not listed below. Safety, antiseptic and disinfection measures of the premises, equipment and surfaces should always be adhered to.
Necessary veterinary acts to be carried out (always after consultation with your veterinarian):

• Vaccination of only vulnerable groups of animals, i.e. puppies or kittens (annual booster vaccinations in adult animals should be suspended until the measures imposed by the decree of the Minister of Health, are withdrawn);

• Examination of animals with symptoms of any condition, always after telephone assessment of the severity of the condition by your Veterinarian (e.g. chronic vomiting or diarrhea that is not addressed by dietary measures, etc.);

• Carrying out surgeries involving emergency situations or deemed necessary at the discretion of the
veterinarian;

• Other diagnostic tests required to be carried out as part of a treatment of a pathological condition (e.g.imaging tests, blood tests, ultrasound, endoscopy, etc.);

• Administration and sale of veterinary medicinal products where necessary (e.g. deworming and defleaing,etc);

• Animal feed and pharmaceutical clinical nutrition diets;

• In cases of house visits, we recommend that this movements should be restricted to those necessary and should comply with the above recommended directives for the veterinary clinics.

All activities that are not included or mentioned above, are suspended until the decree is withdrawn (e.g. grooming, nail cutting etc). In addition, we advise animal guardians to follow the directions announced by Cyprus government either by sending an SMS to the special number announced, or by filling out the required form, as directed.

Dogs can get sick from many things. There is no evidence at this time that your pet can get sick from COVID-19. However, if your dog develops an unexplained disease or comes into contact with someone infected with the coronavirus, talk to your veterinary and/or public health officials. This official may advise you to take your pet to a veterinarian. Inform your vet beforehand so that they can prepare. Do not take your pet to the vet unless you are instructed to do so.

If your pet needs emergency vet care during this period, call your vet in the first instance. Please don't go to the vet without calling first. Don’t leave the house to go to your vet if you are self-isolating, you'll need to arrange for someone else to bring your pet in to be seen if needed. in specific:

If you are not ill with COVID-19 or another communicable disease (e.g., cold, flu), call your veterinarian to make an appointment for your pet or service animal as you normally would.

If you are sick with COVID-19 or another communicable disease, you should stay at home, minimizing contact with other people, until you are well.

If you are sick with COVID-19, and you believe your pet or service animal is ill, please seek assistance from your veterinarian and public health officials to determine how to best ensure your pet or service animal can be appropriately cared for while minimizing risks of transmitting COVID-19 to other people.

It’s best to give your vet a call to discuss your situation and see how they may be able to help. Do be aware that many vet practices may have additional procedures in place, and may need to prioritise emergencies in the current situation. The veterinary profession is doing everything possible to ensure essential and emergency services can be maintained during this difficult time, within Government guidance.

If you are worried about a pet that needs repeat medication, call your vet for advice. For certain repeat prescriptions, it may be possible for them to post or deliver these to you. If not, then you could arrange for someone else to collect these and drop them off for you.

Although there have been no reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. This can help ensure both you and your animals stay healthy. There is still much to be learned about COVID-19 and more information will become available as the time passes.  If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask. 

Follow the government advice, regardless of if you are showing symptoms, is to stay at home and avoid others unless absolutely necessary, so if your pet needs vet care during this period, call your vet in the first instance. Don’t leave the house to go to your vet if you are self-isolating. Get a friend or a relative to take your dog if it is an absolute emrgency.

There is currently no evidence to suggest that dogs can become ill from the COVID-19 virus.

If you notice any signs of illness in your pet we would advise calling your vet as usual in the first instance. They will advise you on the best course of action based on your circumstances, but please be aware that most vet practices will be operating very differently from usual. Please don't take your pet to a vet practice unannounced and bear with your local vet practice as they work to follow Government guidance in this unprecedented situation.

So far, only one dog has tested positive for coronavirus. The dog had swabs taken from its nose and mouth and these samples were found to be ‘weak positive’. The dog had no signs of disease and its blood samples were negative for antibodies. It’s believed that the positive results were due to the dog breathing in contaminated air from the infected owner. Later tests showed that the blood sample tested negative.

As with any surface, if someone with COVID-19 touches, sneezes or coughs on a dog, the virus could temporarily contaminate them. Although we don’t know how long COVID-19 can survive on surfaces, scientists think that it could range from a few hours to several days, depending on the type of surface, how warm it is and levels of humidity.