Is a COVID-19 Vaccine for Pets on Its Way?

Zoo animals are being given experimental vaccinations for protection

Yellow Labrador retriever and Maine coon cat cuddling together on a blue couch

Kimberlee Reimer/Getty Images

Sara Ventiera,

AARP

En español

Published August 26, 2021

As soon as Lois Whelan heard about a COVID-19 vaccine making the rounds for animals, she decided she would inoculate her dog and cat if given the opportunity. But the 71-year-old Fort Lauderdale, Florida, resident may have to wait awhile. Scientists are just starting to test an experimental COVID-19 vaccine on zoo animals, such as tigers, bears, gorillas and ferrets.

Studies have shown that humans can pass the coronavirus to their cats and dogs, and zoo animals are also at risk of catching the virus. Epidemiologists and public health officials worry that some animal species could foster the disease and allow it to mutate.

Whelan thinks that a pet vaccination could be important, despite the small likelihood that her dog and cat will get COVID-19. “But what if?” she asks.

Lions and tigers and bears get shots

This summer some zoos have begun vaccinating animals with an experimental dose created solely for critters. Veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis is donating more than 11,000 doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine for animals to nearly 70 zoos, as well as sanctuaries, universities and conservation programs throughout 27 states. The goal is to protect susceptible species from sickness and death, according to the company.

At the Bronx Zoo, in New York, lions and tigers contracted COVID-19 in April 2020, followed by a troop of critically endangered western lowland gorillas, who received supportive care at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in early 2021. In June two lions died at a zoo in India after testing positive for COVID-19.

"Zoos, these days, harbor some animals that are highly endangered in their natural environment...,” says Dorothee Bienzle, veterinarian and immunologist at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Canada. “We really can't afford to lose any more of them."

California's Oakland Zoo has vaccinated about 50 animals already, starting with bears, mountain lions, tigers and ferrets. The San Diego Zoo kicked off its vaccination campaign with nine great apes, and the Denver Zoo began with gorillas and big cats.

One-way transmission

Scientists have found that COVID-19 can be transmitted from humans to dogs and cats, but it's less likely for it to be transmitted from pets to humans.

Lois Whelan's cat and dog sitting on a bed

Florida resident Lois Whelan says she would vaccinate her dog, Jilly, and cat, Piggie, if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.

Courtesy Lois Whelan

Bienzle recently completed a study of cats and dogs living in households with humans who contracted COVID-19. More cats tested positive (67 percent) than dogs (43 percent). The cats spent more time with their owners, especially sleeping in bed with them, increasing the possibility of infection; this was not true of the dogs. “Dogs have a high risk but not as high as cats,” Bienzle adds.

Felines have receptors similar to humans that allow the coronavirus to attach and infect, explains Will Sander, DVM, assistant professor of preventive medicine and public health at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While the majority of infected cats have shown mild symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing or stomach upset, some studies have found severe symptoms — including one feline in the United Kingdom that had to be euthanized.

"The risk of infection seems to be quite high for cats,” Bienzle says. “Illness seems to occur, but it's mild and transient; serious cases seem to be extremely rare."

Cats who rarely interacted with humans had far less chance of contracting the virus.

But whether or not a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for domesticated pets, veterinarians aren't pushing it.

"The necessity of it would be hard to argue, because mortality is very low, virtually nonexistent in pets,” Bienzle says. “Pets invariably get their infection from people, so if we can get all the people vaccinated and reduce infection among people, then pets are much less at risk."

Putting a pet plan in place

Some people are preparing, however, in case their cats and dogs do contract the disease.

As she does for hurricanes every year, South Florida–based photographer Candace West put an emergency plan in place for her three cats in case she were to come down with the virus or transmit it to her pets.

She and some friends agreed to care for one another's animals if one of them fell ill. West, who regularly fosters cats with medical needs, also purchased extra fluids, appetite stimulants and antibiotics for the animals as precautions.

"I made sure to have everything on hand and enough for a friend,” says West, who is over 50. “I'm not a normal person, but it's not rocket science either just to have supportive care."

Though creating a plan is certainly a good idea, the best way to prevent transmitting COVID-19 to pets is to treat them as you would another human.

Sander agrees with the physical distancing protocol. “The CDC has put out great guidance,” he says. “If you've come down with COVID, try to isolate yourself from your pets and other people in the house, and if you can't have someone else take care of pets, wear a mask around them and wash hands to try and minimize spread."

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Sara Ventiera is a contributing writer who covers pets, health and home design. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications including The New York Times, Food & Wine, NPR, Eating and BBC Travel.

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