There is a significant likelihood that pet animals may come into close contact with people infected by monkeypox. Monkeypox doesn’t easily spread person to person. It can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or mucous membranes. Although it is thought that animals are not easily infected by a positive person, infection would be via the same routes.
There is no evidence of monkeypox virus currently affecting pets in the UK and human-to-human transmission is likely to be responsible for the burden of disease in people in the UK. Pets, which have been in contact with an infected owner, may act as a carrier (fomite) of the virus on their fur for some time, just as the virus can persist in a suitable environment.
If an individual thinks they may have been in contact with someone affected by monkeypox or suspects that they are infected or have tested positive, then they should take precautions to stop other people and animals from becoming inadvertently infected. The briefing note below provides further information and is applicable to all PVPs:
Advice to Veterinarians (and their clients) on Pets and Monkey Pox (defra.gov.uk)