Diagnostics firm reports no COVID-19 cases in pets
The results align with current understanding that COVID-19 is primarily spread from human-to-human.
Veterinary diagnostics company IDEXX Laboratories has announced that it has seen no positive results in pets to date of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus strain responsible for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The firm tested thousands of samples from cats and dogs during validation of a new veterinary test for the COVID-19 virus. The samples used for testing and validation were obtained from samples submitted to the IDEXX Laboratories for PCR testing.
Researchers say that their results align with current understanding that COVID-19 is primarily spread from human-to-human, and support the recommendation against testing pets for the COVID-19 virus.
Jay Mazelsky, president and chief executive officer of IDEXX Laboratories, said: “Should leading health authorities determine it is clinically relevant to test pets for the COVID-19 virus, IDEXX will be ready to make the IDEXX SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RealPCR™ Test available.
“Pets are important members of our family, and we want to keep them healthy and safe. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and pet health across our global IDEXX Reference Laboratories network as this situation evolves.”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
