Chinese dog owners rushed to buy face masks for their pooches after the coronavirus outbreak.
The experts warned pets could also get infected by the dangerous disease.
China’s expert for infectious diseases warned that pet might also get affected by the coronavirus which has already spread to 21 countries and regions. The World Health Organization claimed there is no evidence of the virus being passed onto cats or dogs yet.
Zhou Tianxiao, 33, started selling canine-specific face masks on Chinese e-commerce site Taobao in 2018 to help pets combat air pollution. After the rapid increase of the coronavirus last month in Wuhan, Mr. Zhou’s sales volume rising from 150 masks per month to at least 50 pieces a day, he told MailOnline.
‘Most [dogs] have started to wear [masks]. Because there is this virus, people pay more attention to their health and their pets’ health,’ according to the vendor.
‘[The dog masks] might not be as professional as the medical masks made for humans, but they are functional,’ said Mr Zhou, who has a six-year-old border collie called Sylar.
‘Their main purposes are to block out smog, stop dogs from eating or licking food on the floor and prevent them from being exposed to the virus, compared to risking their lives, prevention is the priority.’
Prof. Li Lanjuan, a member of the senior expert team from China’s National Health Commission, advised that pet owners should take extra care of their animals because the virus ‘spreads between mammals.’
Prof. Li is also an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told state broadcaster CCTV: ‘In this epidemic season, pet owners should strengthen their management of their pets.’
‘If your dogs run around outside and come to contact with the outbreak or people infected with the virus, then your pets should also be put in quarantine.
‘Because the epidemic spreads between mammals, therefore we should take precaution against other mammals.’
[rumble video_id=vd934 domain_id=u7nb2]