Covid 19 Dogs, Humans and Being Careful

As a way of promoting dog and human welfare DogData has put together this article to help you get detailed information about the novel coronavirus. We believe that a healthy dog parent can take better care of his dogs so ensuring pet owners and their dogs are healthy is our priority at DogData.

In as much as you are thinking of preventing yourself and others from contacting coronavirus you should also consider your dogs. You should know that coronavirus can be transmitted from you to your dogs. It can also be transmitted from pets to humans although there is no strong evidence of this. But generally you should avoid kissing your dogs and take other measures that can keep your pets safe. Dogs sniff and lick surfaces a lot therefore it is important to disinfect their premises always

What do we know about Coronavirus in DogData?

Convid-19 is a member of the coronavirus family tree that made its way from animals to humans in 2019. The disease started in the city of Wuhan in China and its transition to humans have been very rapid, Recorded cases of coronavirus has topped 150,000 in china alone and 464000 globally with over 20000 deaths. The motality rate of the coronavirus is known to be significantly higher than other illness and without a very good containment measures the disease has the potential to infect a whole country. Currently it has spread to more than 100 countries around the world.

How can I stop myself, others and pets from getting infected?

In other not to transmit it to your pets you must ensure you adopt the necessary measures not to contact it. The chances of spreading to your dogs becomes significantly higher when you contact it. Avoid handshakes and wash your hands regularly including when you get home and the office. In the absence of water you can use hand sanitizers. Avoid taking your hands close to your face and do not use your hands to cover your mouth or nose while you cough or sneeze. You should also avoid sneezing close to your dogs and also avoid touching their face. Cough into a tissue and dispose used tissue immediately. Avoid large crowds and stay away from people who are exhibiting the symptoms.

How can you tell the difference between Convid-19 and a Flue?

Coronovirus has similar symptoms to that of a flue so how do you tell the difference? Sometimes it is even difficult for medical doctors to tell the difference between these two illnesses because the symptoms overlap greatly. The similarity in symptom is one of the reason that contributed to the wild spread of coronavirus in Italy and other countries where people thought the initial symptoms were flue but happened to be Conronavirus.

The symptoms in dogs is also very similar with other illnesses. One of the ealiest symptoms in dogs is diarrhea which is also associated with lots of other type of illnesses.

Coronavirus symptoms in humans typically begins with high fever, muscle ashes, sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, shivers, fatigue and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting. Some of these symptoms are common in flue so it is important to go for a checkup when you experience one or more symptoms and avoid getting in close proximity with your dogs and other family members.

Coronavirus facts

The worldhealth organization has put the mortality rate of coronavirus at 3.4%. We at DogData have made our research and we know there are many more cases that do not go to the hospital which can bring the mortality rate down or higher. We also know that deaths are higher with the elderly or those already with other form of illnesses.

Can you get infected on public transport?

Yes you and your pets can get it in public transport system or other crowded places but most of the infections occur in families where people live and interact very closely with one another. This is why dogs are at risk of contacting the disease as well. They love hugging us and generally coming close to us. Therefore infected humans can easily transmit it to their pets. It is also possible to pick up the virus when you place your hands where an infected person has placed their hands. The virus can survive on surfaces for 48 to 72 hours on surfaces such as rails, seats, tables and lots more. This is why you need to regularly wash or sanitize your hands and avoid touching your face or your dogs face to prevent the virus going to your eyes, mouth and nose.

Is there a cure for Covid-19?

At the moment there is no cure for coronavirus. Some drugs are been used in china while the US and other countries are trying other forms of drugs. However large numbers are needed to confirm if the drugs actually work for all coronavirus cases, or just for some set of people or do not work at all. However the most hopeful drugs among all is the Kaletra. It is a combination of remdesivir and anti-HIV drugs. Some doctors in China are also trying an anti malarial drugs called Chloroquine. There has been a lot of efforts to develop an effective vaccine and a number of countries are already testing it on animals.

How does it affect dog?

In dogs coronavirus usually produces only mild gastroenteritis. This is an intestinine dieses that destroys the mature enterocytes lining of the intestinal villi. It causes diarrhea, malabsorption and indigestion. Lately deaths due to canine Coronavirus has been on the increase. This is because there are many cases of diarrhea in dogs so most owners do not suspect coronavirus when diarrhea occurs in their dogs. It is important for dog owners to immediately isolate their dogs once they experience diarrhea and see a vet immediately. Coronavirus suspicion would be confirmed only in the lab. Medics can use electron microscope to view the virus. Other symptoms of coronavirus in dogs includes lethargy, anorexia, vomiting dehydration etc.

Prevention and treatments in dogs

It is important to avoid taking your dogs to crowded places or potentially contaminated environments. Use disinfectants in your dogs environments. Thoroughly wash your dogs environments with Alchohols, or use other disinfectants. Ensure you clean up their poops immediately because viral shedding is very high in the poop of dogs. There is currently no vaccine to treat the virus and the best way is to avoid exposing your dogs to potentially infected places. Do the following

Prevent your dogs from going close to people who are sick.

Avoid touching your dogs eyes, nose and mouth.

Do not go close to your dog when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash where your dogs cannot get to.

Frequently clean and disinfect your dogs environment

Myths about Coronavirus

Cold weather and snow CANNOT kill the new coronavirus.

Some people think that cold and snow can kill coronavirus but this is not true. Whether cold or snow the normal human body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the external weather or temperature. This also applies with your dogs.

Taking a hot bath does not prevent the new coronavirus disease

Taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19. This is not true and like we said before your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower. You should know that, taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be dangerous for you. Avoid bathing your dogs with hot water as well.

Coronavirus cannot be transmitted through goods manufactured in Coronovirus hit countries.

It is very unlikely that coronavirus can be transmitted to you after been moved from one country to another. While on transit the virus passes through different weather conditions and temperatures and it is unlikely that the virus would survive. If you suspect any contaminated item please disinfect them.

The new coronavirus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites.

There is no information that coronavirus can be transmitted through mosquito bites. The virus is a respiratory disease and transmits mostly through saliva, sneeze, and cough.

Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?

Exposing your hands to hand dryers cannot kill the virus. You should sanitize or wash your hands and forget about the idea that hand dryers can kill the virus.

Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body or your dogs body kill the new coronavirus?

No it cannot kill viruses that have already entered your dogs body or yours. Alcohol is toxic to dogs so you should avoid exposing your dogs to alcohol. However you should be aware that alcohol can be used to disinfect surfaces.

Can pets at home spread the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)?

An infected dog can spread the virus to you through saliva although there is no strong evidence to this. Therefore you should always wash or sanitize your hands after touching your pets. Washing your hands can also protect you against other viruses such as salmonella and e.colli

Copyright © 2018–2019 DogTree Operating Company, OU. All Rights Reserved.