Could dog proprietor be more prostrate to COVID-19 than others ? We looked at the inquiry to get out .
New research that go after how and why the coronavirus spreads between masses shows a radio link to a high rate of COVID-19 incontrovertibleness to people who walked their dogs . The study , which was conducted in Spain during the nation ’s lockdown period this spring , ispublished in the latest issue of Environmental Research .
Specifically , investigator found that of the 407 people who walked their darling during the lockdown , 28 ( 6.9 percent ) of them reported contracting the novel coronavirus or that they surmise they had the virus ( but did n’t know for sure ) . It ’s a eminent positive rate than people who did n’t have a pet or did n’t walk their pet ( 4.2 percent ) .
Photo: Halfpoint / Getty
The researcher even go as far to take that walking your dog “ increase the risk of contagion of COVID-19 by 78 percent . ” That ’s pretty high !
If those stats have you rethinking your day-to-day dog walks in party favour ofhopping on the tread-wheel , not so tight . Before you resort to being indoors with Fido for all hours of the day , get ’s spill about the limitations of this field of study and how you could still ( safely ) take the air your detent outdoors .
Limitations of the Study
The on-line survey pass more than 2,000 mass , but the generator include that it does n’t represent the Spanish population as a whole , overrepresenting women and underrepresenting the senior . The COVID-19 cases are also self - reported .
But here ’s the deal . Nowhere in the study do the 28 dog walker who ( probably ) contracted the computer virus prove that they contracted it when they walked their Canis familiaris . Could they have ? Sure . Could they have also enchant it from the market store or from an badly - advised hang with a friend ? Yup . So allow ’s acknowledge that they could be both citizenry who caught the computer virus while walking their dogs and people who caught the virus and also find to walk their dogs . ( Basically , correlational statistics does n’t adequate causation . )
Smartly , the author asked about only the limited permissible activity during Spain ’s lockdown , but that ’s still a relatively long lean , which includes trip to get nutrient and some essential jobs .
Remember , every time you leave your home you aretechnicallyputting yourself at higher peril to get the virus . But there are several way of life to mitigate the risk of contracting the coronavirus .
How to Walk Your Dog Safely During a Pandemic
The number from the subject area might be scary — but it is possible for you to still take the air your dog safely . After all , your pupsneed exerciseto live their healthiest lives . Halting all activity is a bad musical theme for both humans and pets , so it ’s important to adopt a few simple rules to help you take the air your dog during the pandemic .
If you ’re still not sell on a walk of life , there are a few other way to verify your pup gets his exercise even when you ’re stuck inside — evendoga(dog yoga ! ) that you’re able to do safely at home through a virtual course of study . Do what ’s upright for both you and your dog to stay glad and healthy during this time .
