Pets and livestock guidance

No. There is absolutely no evidence to show transmission from pets to humans.

However, for all pets, the virus can be present on their fur for a short period of time, in the same way it is on other surfaces, such as tables and doorknobs.  That’s why our main advice for animal owners continues to be to practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands thoroughly (for 20 seconds with soap and water) after touching your pet.

It is advised that you have a Pet Care Plan in place and accessible, in the event that you cannot care for your pet for a period of time. You should have:

• A plan for who might be able to care for your pet in the event of emergency
• Written details as to the care, feeding and medical history of your pet
• Your vet’s contact details

It is possible that COVID-19 can be passed between cats (and ferrets), as a precaution, we advise that:

• You keep your cat/ferret indoors if you receive a positive test result and avoid unnecessary contact with your pet such as cuddling or letting them lick your face until you receive a negative result.
• You keep your cat(s)/ferret(s) indoors if they have respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms and contact your vet for advice.
• You wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding or cleaning up after pets.

If you are not able to keep your cat/ferret indoors then it should be collected by a designated friend/family member who can ensure that the pet remains indoors for a period of 2 weeks or until its symptoms no longer exist.

• The pet and all items associated with it (e.g. bed, collar, leash, toys etc.) must be thoroughly washed and dried on arrival at the home of the carer so as to avoid virus spread.
• Guidance on how to clean the pet appropriately is available in the section “Advice for boarding kennels and catteries” under “Upon arrival at the boarding facility” below.

• You cannot walk your dog if you have tested positive for COVID-19, nor can any family members, friends or professional dog walkers.
• If you have a suitable, enclosed outdoor space you can exercise your dog in your garden.
• If you do not have suitable outdoor space you should have your dog collected by a designated friend/family member who should care for the dog for the entire period of self-isolation until you have received a negative test result.
• The dog and all items associated with it (e.g. bed, collar, leash, toys etc.) must be thoroughly washed and dried on arrival at the home of the carer so as to avoid virus spread.
  • Guidance on how to clean the pet appropriately is available in the section “Advice for boarding kennels and catteries” under “Upon arrival at the boarding facility” below.

• You cannot walk your dog if you have tested positive for COVID-19, nor can any family members, friends or professional dog walkers. See “What do I do with my dog if I receive a positive test result?”
• Enhanced passive follow-up dog owners can walk their dogs outside, provided that they maintain 2 metre social distancing and the dog is kept on a leash.
• Dogs from non-isolating households can be walked in groups from different households and can socialise with other dogs on the walk provided that those dogs are not from self-isolating/enhanced passive follow-up households.
  • If a dog is on a leash, it is advised that you do not allow your dog to go up to it as it may be from an enhanced passive follow-up household.  
• It is standard veterinary advice that you wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding or cleaning up after your pet.

Yes, provided that nobody in the household has tested positive for Covid-19 (see “What do I do with my dog if I receive a positive test result?”) and they do not walk dogs from other households at the same time and the dog is kept on a leash.

• Collection/drop-off of dogs from self-isolating and enhanced passive follow-up households should be done as quickly as possible with as little engagement as possible.
• Dogs from self-isolating and enhanced passive follow-up households should only be walked on the leash and contact with other dogs should be avoided.
• Dog walkers should use their own leash which should be thoroughly washed and dried after each walk.
• Crates and any other surfaces in contact with dogs from self-isolating and enhanced passive follow-up households should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly after each walk.
• Thoroughly wash/sanitise hands after each walk.
• It is still advised that professional dog walkers have an efficient hygiene protocol in place as this is good practice.

Professional dog walkers cannot walk dogs from households with a positive case of COVID-19 (see “What do I do with my dog if I receive a positive test result?” for more info).

Professional dog walkers should not be operating their business if they are self-isolating or in enhanced passive follow-up.

• If returning from category 2 countries – they can operate after a negative day 7 result.
• If returning from category 3 countries – they can operate after their enhanced passive follow up finishes on day 14 (assuming the day 7 test was negative).
• Professional dog walkers must keep a record of the clients they deal with for the 7 days following enhanced passive follow up to aid track and trace, should they get symptoms/be diagnosed with COVID-19 in this time.

See “Can dogs from self-isolating and enhanced passive follow-up households be walked by professional dog walkers/family/friends?” above, for details on walking dogs from self-isolating/enhanced passive follow-up households.

Groomers should not be operating their business if they are self-isolating or in enhanced passive follow-up.

• If returning from category 2 countries – they can operate after a negative day 7 result.
• If returning from category 3 countries – they can operate after their enhanced passive follow up finishes on day 14 (assuming the day 7 test was negative).
• Groomers must keep a record of the clients they deal with for the 7 days following enhanced passive follow up to aid track and trace, should they get symptoms/be diagnosed with COVID-19 in this time.

If owners are showing symptoms of COVID-19, are awaiting results, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are in enhanced passive follow-up, they should NOT be taking their pets to the groomer until they are cleared as NEGATIVE to the virus.

• Mobile groomers can collect pets from enhanced passive follow-up households if they have the appropriate facilities to do so and social distancing is maintained.
• Mobile groomers should not enter the house of enhanced passive follow-up households to do the grooming, they can only collect pets and groom them in their own mobile grooming vehicle.
• Friends/family members of self-isolating/enhanced passive follow-up households may take the pet(s) to the groomer if necessary. We would advise that pets from these households are not taken to the groomer as it isn’t deemed essential and can be done once the household has completed their isolation/enhanced passive follow-up period.

Animals from non-isolating households can be groomed at the same time. Pets from self-isolating/enhanced passive follow-up households should be groomed alone/separately and everything associated with them must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

• It is still advised that groomers have an efficient hygiene protocol in place as this is good practice.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

Boarding facilities should not be operating their business if they are self-isolating or in enhanced passive follow-up.

• If returning from category 2 countries – they can operate after a negative day 7 result.
• If returning from category 3 countries – they can operate after their enhanced passive follow up finishes on day 14 (assuming the day 7 test was negative).
• Boarding facilities must keep a record of the clients they deal with for the 7 days following enhanced passive follow up to aid track and trace, should they get symptoms/be diagnosed with COVID-19 in this time.

If owners are showing symptoms of COVID-19, are awaiting results or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, they should NOT be taking their pets to boarding facilities, until they are cleared as NEGATIVE to the virus.

It is still advised that boarding facilities have an efficient hygiene protocol in place as this is good practice.

As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

Upon arrival at the boarding facility:

• Contact with the pet must be kept to a minimum until it has been thoroughly bathed/wiped down.
• Bath the pet immediately/thoroughly wipe it with pet safe damp disposable cloth.
  • Cats are particularly sensitive to disinfectants and also fastidiously clean their coats and are therefore at risk of poisoning.  If in doubt, shampoo cats using a human baby shampoo and then thoroughly rinse it out.
  • Separate the pet from any other animals until it has been bathed.
• All items associated with the pet must be cleaned, disinfected and fully dried, including leash, collar, crate, towels, clothing, vehicle etc. Wash your hands thoroughly, immediately after cleaning these items.
• Bathing pets and cleaning, disinfecting and drying all things associated with them, is likely to be enough to ensure that the virus is not present on the pet’s fur.
  • As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.
• All waste such as gloves, wipes, masks etc. must be placed in a plastic bag, tied up, then inserted into a second plastic bag, tied up, and quarantined for 72 hours before being left out for collection.

Yes. Pets of self-isolating/enhanced passive follow-up households can be collected by the boarding facility for boarding whilst the owners are isolating. Owners in enhanced passive follow-up can also drop off their pets at the cattery/kennel for boarding.

• Handover must take place outside in a secure garden. Individuals must social distance at all times. It is advised that gloves and masks are worn and hands are washed/sanitised before and after the handover.
• Please check with the facility directly for their latest operating procedures.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.

Friends/family members can also collect pets from self-isolating/enhanced passive follow-up households to take them to boarding facilities.

• Collection of pets from self-isolating and enhanced passive follow-up households should be done as quickly as possible with as little engagement as possible.
• Crates and any other surfaces in contact with pets from self-isolating and enhanced passive follow-up households should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly after transporting pets to boarding facilities.
• Thoroughly wash/sanitise hands after transporting pets to boarding facilities.
• All waste such as gloves, wipes, etc. must be placed in a plastic bag, tied up, then inserted into a second plastic bag, tied up, and quarantined for 72 hours before being left out for collection.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 your pet can go into boarding facilities, provided that the facility is happy to take your pet.

• You must not take your pet to the boarding facility.
• A friend/family member could collect the pet from your premises and take it to the facility.
• A member of staff from the boarding facility could come to your premises and collect the pet.
• See bullet points above explaining how to collect the pet and hygiene requirements.

• Have a Pet Care Plan in place and accessible, in the event that you cannot care for your horse for a period of time. You should have:
  • A plan for who might be able to care for your horse in the event of emergency
  • Written details as to the care, feeding and medical history of your horse
  • Your vet’s contact details
• Hacking can be done if you are in enhanced passive follow-up provided you are social distancing at all times.
• Individuals in enhanced passive follow-up can attend to their horses provided that they remain outdoors and socially distance.

• It is still advised that yards/stables have an efficient hygiene protocol in place as this is good practice.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.
• Individuals in enhanced passive follow-up can attend livery yards and stables provided that they remain outdoors and socially distance.

• Individuals in enhanced passive follow-up can attend to their livestock provided that they remain outdoors and socially distance.
• The abattoir is now operating to a normal schedule but still has in place social distancing measures. Livestock keepers are advised to contact the food business operator directly to book animals in.
• Collection of ‘fallen stock’ continues to operate normally.

• Please refer to the “Advice for those at home in self-isolation” document found here.
• You must not leave the house to walk your dog or attend to other animals. If you have animals located elsewhere (e.g. livestock), please make arrangements for someone else to care for them while you cannot.
• You cannot walk your dog if you have tested positive for COVID-19, nor can any family members, friends or professional dog walkers. See “What do I do with my dog if I receive a positive test result?”
• Avoid unnecessary contact with your pet such as cuddling or letting them lick your face.
• Wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding or cleaning up after your pet.
• If your pet shows clinical signs, please call your veterinary practice for advice. Make sure you tell them if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are awaiting results or are in self-isolation.
• If your pet requires emergency treatment, call the practice for further advice. Do not take your pet to the veterinary surgery unless the vet instructs you to. In that case, you will need to arrange for someone else to transport your pet for treatment.
• Have a Pet Care Plan in place and ensure it is accessible in the event that you cannot care for your animal for a period of time. You should have:
  • A plan for who might be able to care for your animal in the event of emergency
  • Written details as to the care, feeding and medical history of your animal
  • Your vet’s contact details
• You should not ride your horse while self-isolating. If you have a horse in livery, you must not visit them whilst you are self-isolating. You should contact your yard manager to make suitable welfare arrangements.

1. DO NOT take your pet to the vets!
2. Call your vet to describe the symptoms of your pet and explain that you are self-isolating/in enhanced passive follow-up.
3. Your vet will tell you if your pet needs to be brought to the practice.
4. Arrange for a family member/friend to take your pet to the vet on your behalf.
5. Your veterinary practice will have their own protocols in place with regard to pets from self-isolating/enhanced passive follow-up households. They may request that your friend/family member remains in the vehicle with your pet on arrival at the practice. Your friend/family member will have to call the practice when they arrive to inform the vet that they are waiting in the car park. The vet may come and collect the pet from the car park or invite your friend/family member into the practice with your pet.

• Veterinary clinics are now offering routine procedures and consultations.  
• Contact your veterinary practice for their latest operating procedures.
• As always, it is standard veterinary advice to wash your hands after stroking, touching, feeding, or cleaning up after an animal.
• See above, titled “What should I do if I am self-isolating/in enhanced passive follow-up and my pet requires emergency veterinary care?”

Please check with these organisations directly for further details.

• Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Link to GSPCA website
• Guernsey Animal Aid: Link to GAA website

Please contact your local supplier for further information. 

Please contact your local organisations for further information.

Please see the separate guidance documents on pet importation which can be found below.