“Do I need one of these masks, too?”
When I took my dogs in for their annual check up and vaccine updates a couple weeks ago, I had the experience that many of us are having right now – I wasn’t able to go inside with my babies. When the vet tech asked what vaccines we wanted, my husband and I agreed to “Give ’em the works!” as we have always kept them up to date on all vaccines that are recommended for them. This usually includes Rabies, Bordetella (kennel cough), DAP (Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, Parvovirus), Leptospirosis and Canine Influenza (flu), if they happen to be due all at once.
This year, when our pups were brought back to the car and our receipt for services was brought along with them, we noticed a charge for Canine Coronavirus Vaccine. It was an additional $10 per dog, and we were stunned. My husband immediately asked “Is there a COVID-19 vaccine for dogs but not people!?”
Short answer – no.
Long answer….? Still no, but with more details.
Canine Coronavirus Vaccine bottle (credit: Google)
The first article I found de-bunking this theory was on my favorite fact checking site, Snopes, and you can read it here. Snopes talks about how there are several different versions of Coronavirus and that it is named for the “crown-like spikes on the surface” of the virus. So while your dogs may be susceptible to getting a type of Coronavirus, they are not as likely to contract COVID-19, which is the virus causing the human pandemic around the world right now. Unfortunately, there is still no COVID-19 vaccine for humans or for animals. You can read more about the Canine Coronavirus Vaccine by checking out the manufacturer’s site here.
Canine Coronavirus is a real illness and a vaccine may be considered for your animals, once you speak with your vet about the pros and cons. An article from Vet Street here talks about the virus dogs may contract as well as the symptoms. This particular strain is passed from the feces of sick animals and is highly contagious. It usually carries with it symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite for you pup. The good news? Unlike the human strain COVID-19, Canine Coronavirus usually runs its course and your pet will be just fine. As for the Canine Coronavirus vaccine, it looks like it is often lumped in to a combo-vaccine with a few other vaccines that are given regularly, so ask your vet to clarify if you have any reservations (AKA don’t just say “give ’em the works,” like I did… 😬🤦🏻♀️).
So, can dogs get COVID-19 (fancy name: SARS-CoV-2)? The answer is…yes.
“Don’t be suspicious…” 👀👀
I won’t lie, I started to bury my head in the internet sand when I began to find more information about researching this topic, but the gist of what I found is that it is considered a zoonotic disease, because it did jump from an animal species to a human. However, it seems that humans are more likely to be able to give their pets COVID-19 than the other way around. It also seems that pets contracting SARS-CoV-2 are not exhibiting symptoms and illness the way that most humans are, and they are recovering quickly. CNet has a great article with more information here and one of the big takeaways is that we can help protect our pets from this the same way we can help each other! Wash your hands, stay clean and continue social distancing from your fellow humans as much as possible.
Dogs = Heroes ♥
Do not worry – there is some great news too!
The UK has decided to utilize dogs who didn’t qualify to guide those suffering with sight loss for another purpose – detecting COVID-19! We all know how amazing a dog’s sense of smell is, and this seems like one of the most obvious uses of this special skill. Click here for more info on the plan to even further confirm my belief that dogs are our heroes and we just don’t deserve their amazingness.
“Gimme dat.”
We know that there is a lot of information out there right now regarding COVID-19 and as we go into the winter months we are faced with new challenges and questions. Loyal Dog Club is committed to being here for you and your family, furry or otherwise, throughout this uncertainty. We hope this Blog helps clarify a bit about how this affects your four legged friends during this trying time and please be reassured that we are taking every precaution to keep you and your pets safe, as always.
Article Sources:
Vet Street Vaccine
Vet Street Canine Coronavirus
Snopes
Merck Animal Health
COVID Detection Team
CNet
Pet MD