Tag: coronavirus

Dogs May Soon Be Able to Sniff Out Coronavirus in People

Dogs are already saving human lives by using their incredible senses of smell to detect cancer, diabetes and other deadly diseases in humans.

In the not-too-distant future, will they be able to sniff out COVID-19, aka coronavirus, as well?

That’s a potential goal of Medical Detection Dogs, a nonprofit organization based in England that trains dogs to detect diseases in human urine, breath and swab samples. Medical Detection Dogs is planning to work with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Durham University to see if dogs can also be trained to detect COVID-19. This team previously successfully trained dogs to sniff out malaria.

“In principle, we’re sure that dogs could detect COVID-19,” Claire Guest, the founder and CEO of Medical Detection Dogs, said in a press release. “We are now looking into how we can safely catch the odor of the virus from patients and present it to the dogs.”

Once those odor samples can be obtained, it will take six weeks to train dogs “to help provide a rapid, non-invasive diagnosis towards the tail end of the epidemic,” according to the press release.

To train the dogs, they will sniff samples from people infected with COVID-19 along with those from people without the virus. They will indicate, usually by sitting down, when they smell COVID-19. Dogs are also able to detect slight changes in the temperature of human skin, so they can help determine if someone has a fever.

The trained dogs may be deployed to airports and other public places to help detect people with the coronavirus.

“The aim is that dogs will be able to screen anyone, including those who are asymptomatic, and tell us whether they need to be tested,” Guest said. “This would be fast, effective and non-invasive and make sure the limited NHS testing resources are only used where they are really needed.” 

The ability of dogs to detect COVID-19 will be “profoundly impactful” in the months to come, according to James Logan, head of the department of disease control at LSHTM.

Steve Lindsay, a professor at Durham University, said having coronavirus-sniffing dogs in public places “would help prevent the re-emergence of the disease after we have brought the present epidemic under control.” 

There is currently no evidence that dogs can get the coronavirus from people, or that we can get it from dogs or cats. Here are some tips for what dog owners should do if they are infected with the coronavirus.

Photo: Mark Watson/Flickr

What Will Happen to Your Dog If You Have the Coronavirus?

There are plenty of things to be concerned about during the current coronavirus pandemic. For us dog owners, one of those concerns is likely what will happen to our pets if we get very sick.

Here are tips from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) and other experts that may help put our minds a little more at ease. Be safe and stay healthy!

Have a Pet Preparedness Plan Ready

The HSUS recommends that you have a preparedness plan. This should include:

  • Asking a friend or family member if they can care for your dog should you need to be hospitalized.
  • In case your dog needs to be relocated, be sure to have extra food and supplies ready, and a carrier or crate if necessary.
  • Make sure your dog’s vaccines are up to date, and that you and the designated temporary caretaker have copies of the records. Note that even in states that have ordered “safer at home,” like where I live in California, animal hospitals remain open.
  • If your dog is taking any medications, make sure you have a list with the names, dosages and administering instructions.
  • Your dog should be microchipped with your current contact information, and wear a collar and ID tag.

Find Pet Care Resources in Your Community

As the coronavirus spreads, your local community may be able to help you care for your dog.

“During this crisis, there may be options of temporary housing for pets, donated supplies, subsidized veterinary services and more available to help people care for and stay together with their pets,” the HSUS says.

The HSUS also recommends contacting local shelters and animal service agencies to see if any support is available. If you are experiencing financial hardship, check out their list of local and national pet resources for those in need.

Can You Infect Your Dog with the Coronavirus?

Here’s one less thing to worry about: Dogs (and cats) are very unlikely to become infected with COVID-19, according to both the CDC and the World Organisation for Animal Health. There is currently no evidence that they can spread the virus to people.

APRIL 29, 2020 UPDATE: A Pug in North Carolina tested positive for COVID-19, as did some of his his human family members.

However, if you have the coronavirus, you should avoid contact with your pets as well as people. “If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with them,” the CDC advises.

Photo: That’s my shelter dog, Ella, sheltering in place with her Kong toy and favorite blankie.

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