Are dogs susceptible to the Covid-19 infection?
So far, information about how Covid-19 may or may not affect our dogs has been scarce. The following quote is from the Worms and Germs blog which focuses on infectious diseases in animals.
Are dogs susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus? Yes, but… not very… maybe. It depends on what you mean by “susceptible.” Nice and clear, eh?
University of Guelph Centre for Public Health & Zoonoses
The article makes the distinction between dogs getting the virus in their bodies as opposed to getting sick from it. However, a new study reports cases of dogs infected by the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2. Further, these dogs developed signs of heart disease, including myocarditis.
Further reading: COVID Variant Tied to Heart Inflammation in Cats, Dogs
What is myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. Most commonly, myocarditis is infectious in nature. Any infection can make its way from other tissues into the heart muscle—bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa—resulting in inflammation. The inflammation can affect the entire myocardium or a part of it.
What does myocarditis in dogs look like?
Symptoms of myocarditis in dogs can include:
- exercise intolerance
- coughing
- difficulty breathing
- fever
- weakness
- collapse
Myocarditis symptoms can get muddied by those of the original infection.
Severe myocarditis can lead to congestive heart failure or severe arrhythmias which require intensive care.
Further information: Heart Inflammation (Myocarditis) in Dogs
Covid-19 and myocarditis in dogs
The dogs tested in the aforementioned study presented with an acute onset of heart disease, including myocarditis. These dogs tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies. Many of their owners had symptoms and tested positive several weeks prior.
The study results raise the caution that dogs can become infected and suffer health consequences.
Our study reports the first cases of cats and dogs affected by the COVID-19 alpha variant and highlights, more than ever, the risk that companion animals can become infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Luca Ferasin, DVM, PhD, of The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre, UK
The infection led to severe heart abnormalities, similar to Covid-19 complications in humans. However, this was the first time the problem was identified in dogs.
In closing
Fortunately, it appears this issue remains rare. Or is it sneaking under the radar?
Further, is it possible that dogs with other symptoms slipped under the radar as well as they never ended up in a veterinary clinic? Subsequent testing in other European countries also returned positive PCR results.
At this point, though, there is still no evidence that dogs can infected their humans. The infections seem to move only in one direction—humans to dogs.
Source article:
SARS-CoV-2 Variant Detected in Dogs and Cats with Suspected Myocarditis
Related articles:
COVID-19 and My Dog: Can My Dog Get It and Could They Infect Me?
Further reading:
COVID Variant Tied to Heart Inflammation in Cats, Dogs
Update: COVID-19 in Animals Review