City University to launch pet Covid testing scheme

City University said on Wednesday a new Covid testing scheme for cats and dogs should give pet owners in Covid hotspots peace of mind and reduce pet abandonment.

Duncan Hockley, the executive director of the university’s Veterinary Medical Centre, said City University is partnering with the Prenetics health testing company to launch the service from Monday.

“It’s going to be based on the incidents of Covid within the population here in the hotspots, It’s not something that should be widespread testing…providing pet owners reduced anxiety and prevent pet abandonment.”

He described the tests to be very similar to those used for humans.

“It’s real-time PCR testing and it will be validated here within Hong Kong for dogs and cats by Prenetics,” he said, adding the university will also try to expand testing to a wider range of pets.

Hockley also said he’s seen nothing to suggest that authorities would put down dogs and cats belonging to Covid patients.

“There’s been no indication that that would be the case with regards to dogs and cats, as the transmission has always been from human to pet, not from pet to human.

“There have been some positive [cases], they’ve simply gone through their quarantine, testing and have gone home.”