Coronavirus and Your Cat
Are your cats at risk? Can they get the Coronavirus or spread it? Viruses are usually unique to each species and it is unusual for a virus to jump between species. It's very unlikely that household pets like dogs or cats will transmit this Coronavirus to people and there is no evidence at this point that dogs or cats will become ill from this disease,” said Dr. Dana Varble, NAVC Chief Veterinary Officer. “There is no cause for alarm, but it is smart to skip the face kisses for now and wash your hands and face regularly after being with pets. Always include your pets in your emergency preparedness plans. Michelle Fern talks to Dr. Varble about how this virus can or cannot affect your cat and what you can do to keep your kitties safe.
BIO:
About Dr. Dana Varble
Dana Varble has practiced clinical medicine in exotic pet, small animal general practice and emergency medicine and continues to serve as an associate veterinarian on a limited basis for Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie Illinois and as a relief veterinarian for emergency services. She has spoken locally, nationally, and internationally at conferences and seminars on herpetological and exotic animal medicine and surgery and has written several publications in the same field. She joined the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) in 2003, served on the board of directors from 2008 to 2014, and was the president of ARAV from 2012 to 2013. She is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. In January 2015, she joined NAVC as the Executive Director of ARAV and progressed to the Senior Director of Hands-On workshops in October 2017. In October 2018 she was promoted to Vice President of Veterinary Education and in January 2020 she was promoted to Chief Veterinary Officer. She shares her home with a mixed-up brown dog named Hannah and four ball pythons, Phil, Jake, Hickok, and Saffron.
About the NAVC
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with offices in Gainesville, Florida, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a non-profit organization providing world-class professional development to the global veterinary healthcare community. Its largest initiative, VMX, formerly known as the NAVC Conference, hosts thousands of veterinary professionals each year. Other offerings include VetFolio, an online CE platform in conjunction with LifeLearn Animal Health; the NAVC Institute; the Veterinary Innovation Council; an Industry Services Division; NAVC Retriever, a veterinary recruitment platform and job search app; and its Media division, consisting of: Today's Veterinary Business, Today’s Veterinary Nurse, Today’s Veterinary Practice, Veterinary Advantage and an online news and lifestyle channel, Spark! In 2018, the NAVC launched its Certifications division including the Human-Animal Bond Certification and added the Veterinary Business Leader Certification and the Pet Nutrition Coach Certification in 2019.