Dog Tests Positive for COVID-19

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed earlier this week that a case of COVID-19 has infected a German shepherd in New York.

The dog was tested after it displayed signs of a respiratory infection. Additionally, one of the dog’s owners had also tested positive for the disease, however, this was before the dog had shown signs of infection.

Despite being one of two dogs in the household, the other dog showed no signs of infection themselves, however that second dog did test positive for having COVID-19 antibodies. The infected dog is the first dog in the United States to test positive for the disease.

While no other dogs have been confirmed infected with COVID-19 in the United States, there are reports of a small subset of animals becoming infected with the disease. Despite this, there is little evidence to show that animals can are capable of spreading COVID-19 to humans, whereas there are reports that humans could possibly spread the disease to animals. As such, it is recommended that should an individual suspect they have become infected with COVID-19, that they should isolate themselves from both humans and animals until they have either tested negative or the infection has passed.

The testing of the dog did not affect the supply of available tests for humans and the dog is expected to make a full recovery.

A report out of the USDA identified the first reported domesticated dog to become infected with COVID-19.