The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that when handling a pet, you should always wash your hands. According to an article published in Insider, although there have been no confirmed cases of pets carrying the coronavirus in this country, you should still practice good hygiene.

“We do know that, just like any kind of surface, fur can be a surface,” Dr. Kimberly Hammer, of Northstar Vets, told Insider. “And while it is a fibrous surface and a porous surface, which is thought to be less likely to promote transmission, it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility.”

The article also recommends that anyone who has tested positive for the virus should finding someone else to watch their pets.

“If you have a service animal or must take care of your pet, then wear a face mask, don’t share food, kiss or hug them. Wash your hands before and after any contact with your pet or service animal,” says Hammer.

She also advises dog walkers to bring their own leashes to minimize spreading potentially contagious germs among the dogs they care for.

According to MarketWatch, a second dog recently tested positive for the coronavirus in Hong Kong and the government urged people not to abandon their pets and to stop kissing them. The animal, a German shepherd, did not have any symptoms of the disease. This news comes after a 17-year-old Pomeranian who also tested positive died two days after leaving quarantine disease-free. The cause of death was not determined.