North Carolina Pug Possibly The First Dog In U.S. To Test Positive For Coronavirus
A pug in North Carolina may be the first dog in the United States to test positive for the coronavirus, according to CNN.
The family dog named Winston tested positive after a study conducted by Duke University in search of potential treatments.
The entire family except one member tested positive for COVID-19 earlier last month.
See a picture of the dog below:
“His (Winston’s) amount of virus that we detected was very low, suggesting that he would not be a likely mechanism or vector of transmission of virus to either other animals or to, to humans in these households,” Chris Woods, the principal investigator of the study told CNN.
According to the report, the dog showed symptoms while the family was sick.
Keeping Pets Safe
The American Veterinary Medical Association has some tips for pet owners to help keep their furry friends safe during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Anyone who is ill with COVID-19 should try to to interact with their pets, but if they have to do so, wear face coverings
- Have an emergency kit prepared, with at least two weeks’ worth of your pet’s food and any needed medications
- Don’t let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household
- Keep cats indoors, if possible, to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people
- Walk dogs on a leash
- Maintain at least 6 feet from other people and animals
- Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather
