WAVY.com

Local veterinary hospital offers guidance as pets and animals test positive for coronavirus

Photo courtesy of the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter.

GLOUCESTER, Va. (WAVY) — The Animal Care of Gloucester took to social media on Thursday to offer some guidance after pets and animals have recently tested positive for the coronavirus.

The post comes one day after two pet cats in New York tested positive for the virus, and nearly three weeks after a tiger in the Bronx Zoo tested positive.


According to the information released, the cats had very mild respiratory symptoms and tested negative for other illnesses. The cats were from positive COVID-19 households.

While public health officials are still understanding how the virus works, there is no evidence that pets can spread the virus.

Animal care officials said that testing is available for cats, and currently no dogs have been reported to carry the virus. For more information on testing, contact your local veterinarian.

Cat testing criteria includes:

Until more information is known, the CDC recommends the following guidelines for those with pets:

The Animal Care Center of Gloucester is a full-service veterinary hospital that offers surgery, dentistry, grooming, and pet medicine. Patients are seen by appointment and more information can be found online or by calling 804-642-5740.


Latest News