Hareball, I respectfully disagree about the hope for the best part, I think that as we identify the risks and people have good ideas we are safer. Washing hands, the six foot rule, all of this is because people thought out the risks.

I actually have lavender scented dog wipes (lol, I know) but I don't think those would be effective. I am not at all suggesting anyone dump their dog, I am asking for thoughts, out of thought comes safety.

hareball, every time you turn around you're likely to encounter a newly uncovered development about this and other things too. Those are the times. Lucille's speculation wasn't alarmist or paranoid, she was simply thinking about it.

Thinking - an activity that was formerly common but that has fewer practitioners these days.

An interesting notion, Lucille, and it perhaps could apply to one's shoes too if walking across grass. If this happens, a mitigating factor would be the exposure to sunlight if walking during the daytime.

There are already people dumping there dogs because of this. One of the local shelters has already mentioned it on their website. That and the number of people who are now out of work is putting a strain of the shelters in this area.

That is sad, perhaps the answer is to think out a solution to any possible risk? Maybe a spray bottle of disinfectant harmless to the dog but one that kills Covid, and the dog would get spritzed before reentering the home?

Lucille like I said I wasn't making like of your question. I'm just saying there is only so much we can do. Germs are everywhere. Just try your best to do what you can. I mean we can't spray our dogs down with Lysol (not that you were suggesting this just mentioning). The only things would be washing them every time they go out or even just wiping them down with a wet cloth and throwing that in the washer. You could let them stay out in the sun for a bit but then you have to make sure it's sunny, make sure they stay out the right amount of time, watch them to make sure they don't roll around again, etc. Unfortunately some people don't have that kind of patience.

Maybe do some research online and see if this has been addressed or see if there is a site you can bring it up to so this information can be researched and distributed. Maybe like Petco or Chewy. I will keep an eye out and if I see any information regarding this I will post back on here.

do you think a dog could be a fomite?

In the scenario you present, I believe it is remote in the extreme.

I doubt people know that dog saliva can transmit MITES. No 'kissy face' for me, thank you.

chisue, you reminded me of this. 😄

I have not heard of any dogs being dumped because of this! I would think anyone who would get rid of their dog for this reason is the type of person who shouldn't have a pet in the first place.

On the contrary, we've had one local shelter that had an upsurge in adoptions from people wanting to help out and empty out the cages. Sadly part of that reasoning is so they will have room to take in people's pets that might die without anyone to take their animals in. My children would never let that happen to my dogs, as I would take on theirs as well if ever needed.

According to local news reports, adoptions at our local animal shelters are actually up. Apparently, having increased time at home and self-isolation/sheltering in place/being alone is prompting more people to include a new pet in their life! And our local shelter has this to say about pets and Covid 19: "Please note that the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) Global Veterinary Community—an association representing more than 200,000 veterinarians—states that there is no evidence that pet dogs or cats can be a source of infection to other animals or to humans. We encourage you to regularly consult the websites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization."

Wacky that this thread would even be started.

Sheesh!

Not so fast, gardengal.

If you as a dog owner were to become ill with coronavirus, your veterinarian wouldn't know and might never know. If the transmission vector included your dog, the public health folks trying to track down all the means of transmission might never learn that unless a specific study were done. A proclamation by a vet organization can't be helpful.

I traced that org's press release and it was irresponsible. It spoke anecdotally of an instance with ONE DOG - yes ONE DOG - in Hong Kong.

Continue to march, nothing (to my knowledge) is known on this topic. Caution is warranted in all things, but not paranoia or premature "conclusions".

To say "there is no evidence" in the scientific world doesn't mean -"This doesn't happen". It means "Nothing is known, neither a positive conclusion nor a negative conclusion has been been found to have been demonstrated ......".

The only known effective protection is a skull cap made of aluminum foil.

Lucille, you need to calculate the viral load of the particles in the cough on its way to the grass to the dog to your hand to your mouth. I'm pretty certain Dr. Fauci would tell you it is pretty small.

Not a worry for me personally as me and the mutts are pretty well isolated from the general public.

Also,I am rather obsessive about washing my hands immediately after petting my dogs. Immediately. I touch nothing until my hands are washed. Well, maybe the doorknob to come inside. But not my face,certainly not my mouth.It's a hygiene thing, but also I am allergic to them. Everywhere they touch will break out in a rash if I dont wash them very well. Muffin enjoys licking my arms excessively. They break out in hives every time. I have to wash and wash and wash them to calm the reaction. I feel like there is a film (imagined I am sure) on my hands when I pet them. But I love them to distraction, so the petting will continue.....

So, to answer the question, I do think dogs can bring in germs. But no more than maybe my purse or an item from the grocery store that a bunch of people have touched before i have. Or the shopping cart that someones sick kid has ridden in and sneezed all over. I think that if people have basically decent hygiene, regular germs can be kept at bay. If people are more diligent during this situation and more careful with their personal cleanliness,I think that even stray germs brought in my our beloved pets can be thwarted for people with an average immune system.

Wash your hands everyone.

Be kind graywings. If nothing is known, nothing is known. Amateur speculation adds little.