The first dog to test positive for the COVID-19 in the United States has died, National Geographic magazine reported, after struggling with symptoms that are commonly attributed to coronavirus.
The first dog to test positive for the COVID-19 in the United States has died, National Geographic magazine reported, after struggling with symptoms that are commonly attributed to coronavirus.
The seven-year-old German Shepherd became sick in April, around the same time his owner Robert Mahoney was recovering from COVID-19, according to the magazine. Buddy seemed to have a stuffy nose and difficulty breathing, and his condition only worsened over the following weeks and months.
Robert and his wife Allison, who live in Staten Island New York, eventually euthanized the dog on July 11 after Buddy began vomiting and urinating blood and was too weak even to walk, nut the family told National Geographic that they had a hard time ascertaining their suspicion that Buddy was infected with COVID-19.
Robert said, "Without a shadow of a doubt, I thought Buddy was positive," but many veterinary clinics in their area were closed because of the pandemic. Some of them were very sceptical about pets contracting the virus at all, but most testing supplies were conserved for human use anyway. A vet was finally able to confirm that Buddy was positive, and found that the 10-month-old puppy, who has never been sick, had COVID-19 antibodies.
Buddy's vets later discovered the dog was likely also suffering from a form of cancer called lymphoma, raising the question of whether animals, like humans with pre-existing conditions, might also be more susceptible to the novel coronavirus.
A USDA database of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in animals in the United States includes 12 dogs, 10 cats, a tiger and a lion. The agency says there is currently no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the coronavirus but it appears the virus can spread from people to animals in some situations.
Speaking about Buddy, Allison Mahoney said, "He was a good little pumpkin. I just wish we'd had him for longer."
The seven-year-old German Shepherd became sick in April, around the same time his owner Robert Mahoney was recovering from COVID-19, according to the magazine. Buddy seemed to have a stuffy nose and difficulty breathing, and his condition only worsened over the following weeks and months.
Robert and his wife Allison, who live in Staten Island New York, eventually euthanized the dog on July 11 after Buddy began vomiting and urinating blood and was too weak even to walk, nut the family told National Geographic that they had a hard time ascertaining their suspicion that Buddy was infected with COVID-19.
Robert said, "Without a shadow of a doubt, I thought Buddy was positive," but many veterinary clinics in their area were closed because of the pandemic. Some of them were very sceptical about pets contracting the virus at all, but most testing supplies were conserved for human use anyway. A vet was finally able to confirm that Buddy was positive, and found that the 10-month-old puppy, who has never been sick, had COVID-19 antibodies.
Buddy's vets later discovered the dog was likely also suffering from a form of cancer called lymphoma, raising the question of whether animals, like humans with pre-existing conditions, might also be more susceptible to the novel coronavirus.
A USDA database of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in animals in the United States includes 12 dogs, 10 cats, a tiger and a lion. The agency says there is currently no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the coronavirus but it appears the virus can spread from people to animals in some situations.
Speaking about Buddy, Allison Mahoney said, "He was a good little pumpkin. I just wish we'd had him for longer."