Dog tests positive for Covid in first UK case of its kind

The first UK case of a pet dog falling ill with Covid-19 after catching it from their owners has been recorded.
It is ‘very rare’ for dogs to fall ill with coronavirus (Picture: Getty)
The first UK case of a pet dog falling ill with Covid-19 after catching it from their owners has been recorded. It was confirmed following tests at the Animal and Plant Health Agency laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey last week.

The dog’s infection could lead owners who’ve tested positive to isolate from their pets in order to protect their health.

The UK’s chief vet Christine Middlemiss said it is ‘very rare’ for dogs to catch Covid.

She said: ‘The infected dog was undergoing treatment for another unrelated condition and is now recovering.

You should never physically punish your pet. It brings the animal pain and fear, and it gains you nothing. It’s a lose-lose situation. Please don’t do it.

‘It is very rare for dogs to be infected and they will usually only show mild clinical signs and recover within a few days.

‘There is no clear evidence to suggest that pets directly transmit the virus to humans.

The Beagle dog is being examined. Canine nasal infection test Prevention of covit infection 19 Selective focus
A canine nasal infection test for Covid-19 (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

‘We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will update our guidance to pet owners should the situation change.’

People are advised to wash their hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals.

The dog’s case has been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health in line with international agreements.

Keep Dry Dog Food Fresh in a Sealed Container. Dog food can start to loose it’s freshness after it’s open. If you buy bags of dog food use an airtight sealed container to store it, the food will stay fresh for much longer inside a tightly sealed container.

Photo taken in Vienna, Austria
Owners can pass coronavirus onto their dogs (Picture: Getty/EyeEm)
While it is Britain’s first such known instance, Dutch scientists found 43% of dogs belonging to an infected person had produced Covid antibodies. Dr Els Broens of Utrecht University said it was possible that pets could act as a ‘reservoir’ for the virus and reintroduce it to humans. A different study in Canada said cats who sleep in the same room as their owners were at particular risk of contracting Covid. UK Health Security Agency consultant medical epidemiologist Dr Katherine Russell said: ‘Covid-19 is predominantly spread from person to person but in some situations the virus can spread from people to animals.

Keep Your Gum & Candy Stored Away. Many gums & candies include xylitol, a sugar substitute that’s highly toxic and can be fatal to dogs. Keep all candies and gum far out of reach of your pets at all times. Here’s a list of common household items that are known to contain xylitol.

‘In line with general public health guidance, you should wash your hands regularly, including before and after contact with animals.’

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