The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Summer 2020 | Page 43
FEATURE | WHAT DOG TRAINERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19
with their dogs by thinking outside the box and staying abreast
of the latest developments and recommendations for the safety
of all we encounter in our personal and professional lives.
used for controlling the spread of certain pathogens, such as
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that remain suspended in the air
for longer periods of time and travel farther distances.
Medical professionals also use other PPE, such as disposable
gowns and gloves. None of this is necessary or recommended
for the public. In addition to social distancing, avoiding people
who are sick or coughing, proper handwashing and disinfection
of shared or common work areas is recommended if you find
yourself in a situation where you’re not able to stay at home.
Objects such as faucets, doorknobs, handles, phones, computer
keyboards, and surfaces such as tabletops and desks are things
that should be disinfected regularly. Additionally, eat well, try
to get a good night’s sleep, and get some fresh air and exercise
outdoors away from crowds. Now would also be a good time to
spend some quality time with your own furry companions.
If you’re 60 or older and have underlying chronic medical
conditions like asthma or immune deficiency, you’re at high risk
for serious illness from this virus and should stay home as much
as possible, but be sure to limit your dose of daily news and
eat a healthy diet. Signs and symptoms of the illness, according
to the CDC, include fever, shortness of breath, and coughing.
Monitor your temperature and report a temperature elevation to
your physician, especially if you have new or increased shortness
of breath and coughing. Stay well and think of the safety of
others as well as yourself!
REFERENCES:
American Veterinary Medical Association. (2020a, April 12). SARS-
CoV-2 in animals, including pets. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/
resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19/sars-cov-2-animalsincluding-pets
American Veterinary Medical Association. (2020b, April 19). SARS-
CoV-2 in animals, including pets. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/
resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19/sars-cov-2-animalsincluding-pets
CDC. (2020, April 13). If You Have Animals. Retrieved from https://
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.
html?CDC_AA_refVal=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
prepare/animals.html
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20,
2020, from https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Licitra, B. N., Duhamel, G. E., & Whittaker, G. R. (2014). Canine enteric
coronaviruses: emerging viral pathogens with distinct recombinant spike
proteins. Viruses, 6(8), 3363–3376. doi: 10.3390/v6083363
National Academies Press. (2004). Institute of Medicine (US) Forum on
Microbial Threats. Animal Coronaviruses: Lessons for SARS. (L. J. Saif, S.
Knobler, A. Mahmoud, S. Lemon, & et al., Eds.). Learning from SARS:
Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak: Workshop Summary. Retrieved
from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92442/
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD),
Division of Viral Diseases. (2020, February 15). Human coronavirus types.
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/types.html
Pederson, N. (2020, February 6). Can Pets Contract Coronavirus from
Humans or Vice Versa? Retrieved from https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/
news/can-pets-contract-coronavirus-humans-or-vice-versa
Shaheen, T. (2020, March 19). The Chinese Wild-Animal Industry and
Wet Markets Must Go. Retrieved from https://www.nationalreview.
com/2020/03/the-chinese-wild-animal-industry-and-wet-markets-must-go/
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2020, April 6). USDA Statement
on the Confirmation of COVID-19 in a Tiger in New York.
Retrieved from https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/news/
sa_by_date/sa-2020/ny-zoo-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR228zowNG4h1tsL_
wjOgsBVDJ4MYvxBmLA2LGS4pMGkoxExKNHRu7q21kM
Virginia Department of Health. (2020, January). Coronaviruses. Retrieved
from http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/
coronaviruses/
Woo, P. C., Lau, S. K., & Yuen, K. Y. (2006). Infectious diseases emerging
from Chinese wet-markets: zoonotic origins of severe respiratory viral
infections. Current opinion in infectious diseases, 19(5), 401–407. https://
doi.org/10.1097/01.qco.0000244043.08264.fc
New challenges present new opportunities for innovation. They
test our ability to develop new ways of thinking and performing
our work. Rather than thinking of the pandemic as an obstacle,
we can help ourselves and our clients who still need our assistance
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Summer 2020 41