Pet owners seek face masks for dogs amid coronavirus outbreak

Show Caption Hide Caption Wuhan coronavirus: Dog owners buying up face masks for pets People in face masks are a familiar sight amid the coronavirus outbreak, but now some are making sure their pets are covered as well.

People in face masks are a familiar sight amid the coronavirus outbreak in China and as cases pop up around the globe. Now, some are making sure their pets are covered, as well.

While some stores have reported running out of masks for humans, companies that make face masks for dogs, such as Good Air Team, which owns K9 Mask, have also experienced a spike in sales.

Kirby Holmes, owner and CEO of Austin-based K9 Mask, told USA TODAY that the company has seen a 300% to 400% rise in business.

“We just filled an order today from Wuhan, China,” Holmes said. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan.

“We would usually average five to 10 units a day. We’ve sold 110 to 130 units in just the past few days,” Holmes said.

Holmes' company has not claimed its products can prevent the transfer of the coronavirus. But it's a matter of precaution.

“They want to make sure to purchase the product early before it runs out, just to be prepared,” Holmes said about his customers.

Most of the recent sales of the dog masks, which can cost up to $50, were shipped to customers in the U.S., according to Holmes.

Zhou Tianxiao, a Beijing-based online canine face mask seller, tells the Daily Mail that his inventory, initially marketed to help pets fight air pollution, has shifted from selling 150 masks per month to at least 50 pieces a day with the advent of the outbreak.

Still, there’s no evidence that pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization.

Masks are not usually recommended in non-health care settings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Most coronaviruses are spread through airborne droplets (sneezing or coughing), touching or touching an infected surface.

While the CDC does not discourage healthy people from wearing surgical masks as a precaution, the agency is only recommending their use for patients thought to have the virus and the medical professionals who interact with them.

Diseases that can transfer from humans to animals – called zoonoses – are not unheard of. Examples include H1N1 virus, or the “swine flu” that was first detected in people in the U.S. in 2009, the avian flu, and rabies.

Reverse zoonoses, while less common, can happen. Animals have gotten diseases like ringworm, influenza, and paramyxovirus, commonly known as the Mumps, from humans.

The WHO advises people to wash their hands with soap and water after contact with pets to prevent the spread of any disease that can pass between humans and animals.