The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Summer 2020 | Page 41

FEATURE | WHAT DOG TRAINERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19
introduced to any new animals for several years. Only one cat was
tested since these animals need to be anesthetized for diagnostic
sampling. Anesthesia always poses some risk, and zoo veterinarians
felt that since all animals were displaying the same symptoms, it was
only necessary to test one. The cats are presumed to have contracted
the virus from a zookeeper, who has not shown signs of illness. All
the affected lions and tigers are expected to make a full recovery.
COVD-19 in Dogs: A 17-year-old quarantined Pomeranian belonging
to an owner in Hong Kong diagnosed with COVID-19 was
found to be “weakly positive” through samples obtained from the
nose and oral cavities. Blood samples showed the dog had developed
an immune response to the virus. When nasal samples were negative
for the virus on two consecutive days, the dog was returned to its
owner. The Pomeranian was one of two dogs under quarantine from
the same home. The second dog consistently tested negative, and neither
dog showed any signs of respiratory illness. Unfortunately, the
Pomeranian died three days after being returned to the owner but
had other health conditions that were likely to have been the cause
of death, rather than COVID-19. Another pet in Hong Kong tested
positive, a two-year-old German Shepherd Dog (GSD) whose owner
had also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. A second dog lived in the
home and consistently tested negative. Neither dog displayed signs of
respiratory illness while in quarantine. The GSD tested negative for
10 consecutive days, after which the virus and antibodies to the virus
were identified in the dog.
COVID-19 in Cats: Another Hong Kong pet, this time a cat, also
tested positive for the virus using oral, nasal, and rectal swabs. The
cat’s owner had tested positive for COVID-19. The cat was sent for
quarantine at an animal-keeping facility in Hong Kong on April 1
and showed no signs of disease. A cat in Belgium who belongs to
an owner who tested positive for COVID-19 also tested positive for
the virus. The cat had respiratory and digestive symptoms. Stool
and vomitus were sampled. It’s not known what other conditions
or diseases were ruled out in this cat, but the cat reportedly became
ill one week after its owner returned from Italy. The cat reportedly
improved nine days after the onset of symptoms.
COVID-19, and there is no evidence that pets may be a source of
transmission of COVID-19 from animals to humans. As of April
22, two pet cats tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 living in separate
areas of New York State. They showed mild respiratory symptoms
and are expected to recover. One cat’s owner had tested positive
prior to the cat’s diagnosis, and no one had COVID-19 in the other
household with the affected cat.
COVID-19 in Zoo Animals (United States) - In April, five tigers
and three African lions at the Bronx Zoo have tested positive for
SARS-CoV-2. The signs included a dry cough and wheezing,
but no difficulty breathing. The cats are longtime residents of the
Transmission from pets to people: There is currently no evidence
to suggest that dogs or cats can transmit SARS-CoV-19 to other
animals or people. It does appear, from anecdotal evidence, that
transmission can go the other way however, and people can transmit
the virus to their pets and perhaps wild animals. The American
Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) states there is no reason
at this time to remove dogs or cats from the home of an individual
who has tested positive for the virus. If there is someone else to
care for the pet so that the infected person has minimal contact,
that’s the ideal. To prevent transmitting the virus to their pets,
it’s advisable to have someone else walk, feed, and play with the
pet. If that’s not possible, a face covering, such as a bandana or
scarf, or a mask if one is available, should be worn when in close
contact with the animal. Food, dishes, eating utensils, towels, and
bedding should not be shared with the animal or other people
Photos: Shutterstock
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Summer 2020 39