More than 36 out of 5000 tests on cats and dogs proved positive for Covid

The Sun Sentinel tells us that one manufacturer providing Covid PCR tests for pets, IDEXX Laboratories, tested over 5,000 specimens from dogs, cats and horses. All of the animals had respiratory health issues. The tests confirmed that more than three dozen cases of Covid in either a dog or cat were positive. It appears that they had caught Covid from their human caregiver. This is a report from Florida and therefore these are Floridian cats.

More than 36 out of 5000 tests on cats and dogs proved positive for Covid. Image: MikeB

What is the interest? This is the first time that I have seen a measured percentage of cats and dogs contracting Covid from a large sample. Unfortunately, the report does not drill down and tell us the percentage for cats and for dogs. 

They have merged the two species. Nonetheless, 'more than 36' might be around 40 so 40/5000 is 0.8%, in percentage terms. That of course is less than 1%. So, we can say on the basis of this skimpy report that less than 1% of cats and dogs get Covid from their human caregiver in Florida. A very low figure.

It may be possible to extrapolate that information to other parts America but it might not be wise to do so. The information is useful because we can date it to January 2022. 

This is a time when the Omicron variant has spread rapidly. It is less severe but more contagious than the previous Delta variant. It is a sort of snapshot at a certain date about a certain variant and its impact on two species of companion animal. That might be useful to some people which is why I am reporting it.