Ethos Veterinary Health
  • Veterinary Teams
    • Submit a Referral
    • Hospital Updates
    • Veterinary Compounding
    • Continuing Education
    • VetBloom CE
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Clinical Studies
    • Hospital Updates: COVID-19
    • Our Network of Hospitals
  • Our Hospitals
    • NORTHEAST
      • Boston West
      • Bulger
      • Capital District
      • Mass Vet
      • Peak
      • Port City
      • SAVES
    • MID-ATLANTIC
      • The Oncology Service – Leesburg
      • The Oncology Service – Richmond
      • The Oncology Service – Springfield
    • MIDWEST
      • Premier – Chicago
      • Premier – Grayslake
      • Premier – Orland Park
      • WVRC – Grafton
      • WVRC – Racine/Kenosha
      • WVRC – Waukesha
    • MOUNTAIN
      • Wheat Ridge
    • PACIFIC
      • Atlantic Street
      • PESCM
      • VERC
      • Vista
      • VSH – North County
      • VSH – Sorrento Valley
  • Our Services
    • Continuing Education
    • Blood Donor Program
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Clinical Studies
    • FAQs: Clinical Studies at Ethos
    • VetBloom
    • Hospital Services
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Why Ethos
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Leadership Team
    • Press Releases
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDCast
  • We’re Hiring!
    • Apply Today
    • Ethos Job Fairs
    • Employee Benefits and Perks
    • Vet Student Externships
Ethos Veterinary Health
  • Our Hospitals
    • NORTHEAST
      • Boston West
      • Bulger
      • Capital District
      • Mass Vet
      • Peak
      • Port City
      • SAVES
    • MID-ATLANTIC
      • The Oncology Service – Leesburg
      • The Oncology Service – Richmond
      • The Oncology Service – Springfield
    • MIDWEST
      • Premier – Chicago
      • Premier – Grayslake
      • Premier – Orland Park
      • WVRC – Grafton
      • WVRC – Racine/Kenosha
      • WVRC – Waukesha
    • MOUNTAIN
      • Wheat Ridge
    • PACIFIC
      • Atlantic Street
      • PESCM
      • VERC
      • Vista
      • VSH – North County
      • VSH – Sorrento Valley
  • Our Services
    • Continuing Education
    • Blood Donor Program
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Clinical Studies
    • FAQs: Clinical Studies at Ethos
    • VetBloom
    • Hospital Services
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Why Ethos
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Leadership Team
    • Press Releases
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDCast
  • We’re Hiring!
    • Apply Today
    • Ethos Job Fairs
    • Employee Benefits and Perks
    • Vet Student Externships
  • Veterinary Teams
    • Submit a Referral
    • Hospital Updates
    • Veterinary Compounding
    • Continuing Education
    • VetBloom CE
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Clinical Studies
    • Hospital Updates: COVID-19
    • Our Network of Hospitals

Our Blogs

Ethos Coronavirus Canine Update 3-5-2020

March 5, 2020

A message from our Chief Medical Officer – Timothy Smith, DVM, MBA

Since the first report a few days ago that the coronavirus, COVID-19, was found on swabs of a dog’s nose and mouth, the world has been waiting to see if dogs can contract this disease.  The dog in question, a Pomeranian which was living with an infected person in Hong Kong, is in quarantine and showing no clinical signs of disease.  However, the scientists in Hong Kong are now reporting that the dog does have a COVID-19 infection and not just carrying the virus on its mucous membranes. This finding will likely generate a lot of questions and concerns. 

Please keep in mind that a variety of coronaviruses are found in people, dogs, cats, birds and reptiles.  Some of these viruses can cause disease and illness in the animal, and some do  not.  

Key Takeaways
  • Except for this one dog, as of today there are no reports of pets being infected with the virus and becoming ill. The current pandemic virus likely originated in bats in one small area in China.
  • It is still not known if a dog can transmit the disease to a human or another pet.  This one dog seems to have been infected by its owner who was sick with the disease.  Again, the dog is not sick or showing symptoms, but is being quarantined. 
  • At this time, we do not know if pets will get sick from the virus.  This one dog is healthy with no signs of illness.  More testing of dogs will likely occur in the coming months but we will have to wait and see if there are any ill effects of the virus to our pets. 
  • The most important things for pet owners to continue are the same hygiene and contact avoidance recommendations we are all following right now; handwashing, not shaking hands, staying home if you are sick all still apply.  Keeping the pets of infected humans away from other pets may be a good step but that is not officially being recommended in the US and more research needs to be performed.

Please see the following websites for up to date information:

American Veterinary Medical Association

World Small Animal Veterinary Association

AVMA FAQ Sheet

 

If you have any questions or concerns we recommend you reach out to your primary care veterinarian.

Share

About the Author

  • Timothy Smith, DVM, MBA

Resources

  • Contact an Ethos Hospital Near You
  • Our Blog
  • AVMA FAQs

Recent News

  • Vuja De Sciences Announces the Appointment of Two New Board Members January 7, 2020
  • IBM and VetBloom Advance Veterinary Industry Group’s Formation of a Learning Credential Blockchain November 15, 2019
  • Ethos Discovery Receives Support from Citizens Bank November 1, 2019

Related Posts

  • Ethos Coronavirus Update- 3/16
    Read Article
  • AVMA FAQs for Pet Owners- Coronavirus
    Read Article
  • COVID-19 Update 3-13-2020
    Read Article
  • Curb-side Veterinary Care at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital
    Read Article
  • COVID-19 Precautions – PESCM
    Read Article
Ethos Veterinary Health
  • Veterinary Teams
    • Submit a Referral
    • Hospital Updates
    • Veterinary Compounding
    • Continuing Education
    • VetBloom CE
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Clinical Studies
    • Hospital Updates: COVID-19
    • Our Network of Hospitals
© 2021 Ethos Veterinary Health
Website Design by Jackrabbit