When the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the U.S., Trupanion, the leader in medical insurance for pets, understood that information surrounding the pandemic would be changing not just day-to-day, but minute-to-minute. It was clear that the coronavirus would generate concerns and raise questions from responsible pet owners around the globe. 

So the Seattle-based organization invited veterinary experts on Zoom Webinars to provide fact-based insight on pets and COVID-19. Trupanion initially geared these webinars toward advancing the good of global pet health among the veterinary community. However, the scope quickly expanded to more efficiently share important, real-time information with Trupanion members and pet owners about COVID-19 and its potential impact on their beloved pets.

“Pets are family members, too,” said Margi Tooth, Chief Revenue Officer at Trupanion, “and people are just as concerned about protecting their pets’ health during this pandemic. Zoom provided an easy-to-use platform for Trupanion to reach pet owners all over the United States and Canada. It’s rare to find a platform that is easy to use. Our business is based on developing strong connections and relationships with our partners and members alike. We’re grateful to Zoom for providing us with a new means of connecting when interacting is taking on a very different style.”

Trupanion also used its own database of claims history to provide data-driven support in regard to COVID-19 and pet health. Trupanion’s database consists of millions of claims for North American pets over the last 20 years, and its teams leverage that data to analyze longitudinal trends among cats and dogs to augment their webinars with insights into the current pandemic.

Since late March, Trupanion has used Zoom’s webinar platform to broadcast relevant information and guidance concerning pets and COVID-19 to over 750,000 people.

In addition to addressing the latest pet-centric COVID updates, Trupanion’s webinars also inform animal health professionals on PPE, essential services, and other decisions that may impact a veterinary hospital and team.

Here are some of the most popular questions and answers from Trupanion’s Zoom webinars regarding the coronavirus:

Can pets get COVID-19?

There have only been a handful of cases where pets have tested positive for the virus, but the evidence is overwhelming that the coronavirus is a people problem. In the extremely rare case where a pet tests positive, they experience mild symptoms (mild sneezing, diarrhea), and all have recovered quickly. 

Can pets spread COVID-19 to humans?

The pets that have tested positive are coming from households in which someone had the virus. There has not been a single confirmed case anywhere in the world where we’ve seen a pet spread COVID-19 to a person. 

Can we test pets?

There is currently large-scale coronavirus testing for dogs and cats. Two major veterinary laboratories have tested thousands of animals worldwide.

What can we do now to help our pets?

Keep proper hygiene with your pets. It’s a good idea to wash your hands, and maybe don’t kiss your dog on the mouth. There are actually other things, like parasites, that people and dogs can share, so practicing good hygiene around your pets is never a bad idea. Social distancing works just as well for pets as it does for people. If you and your pet avoid other people or pets, you are both safer.

Trupanion is excited to bring together experts to share more insights with pet owners at 4 p.m. PST Wednesday, June 17, on Zoom Webinars. Sign up for the event on Facebook. To learn more about how to create a webinar for your online events, sign up for a personalized demo with a Zoom product specialist today.

Trupanion is a registered trademark owned by Trupanion, Inc. Underwritten in Canada by Omega General Insurance Company and in the United States by American Pet Insurance Company, 6100-4th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108.