The first dog to be diagnosed with a coronavirus infection in the USA is dead. The owners of the seven-year-old German shepherd Buddy told the magazine „National Geographic“ that they had the seriously ill animal put to sleep in mid-July. Buddy had spit out blood clots, blood in the urine and could no longer walk.
Buddy was ill in April – around the same time that his owner Robert Mahoney was recovering from Covid 19 disease. The German Shepherd had a stuffy nose and had difficulty breathing. His condition worsened over the weeks.
But getting a test was difficult: Not only were many veterinary practices closed due to the pandemic. Many veterinarians were also skeptical that animals could become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition, there has long been a lack of tests in the United States – they have been reserved for people.
Little known about animal infections
Finally, Buddy got a test that turned out to be positive. Veterinarians later found out that the dog had cancer. This leads to the question of whether animals – like humans – are more susceptible to the virus with previous illnesses. Little is known about the risk of infection and the consequences of the coronavirus for pets. According to the National Geographic, twelve dogs and ten cats have been tested positive for the virus in the United States.
