A dog with a coronavirus dies in North Carolina: dozens of animals are infected in the USA

A diagnosis of a dog in North Carolina could mean a rare, potentially fatal case of COVID-19 in a pet, although it's still unclear if the dog had other underlying medical conditions and what exactly it died of. NBC News.

Photo: Shutterstock

On Monday, August 10, officials said that a North Carolina dog that died following an "acute illness" earlier this month had tested positive for the coronavirus. In a statement, investigators were still trying to determine why the animal died.

The dog was admitted to the North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh on Aug. 3 after showing signs of respiratory distress earlier that day, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

The person who brought the animal to the hospital told staff that a family member had previously tested positive for the coronavirus, although a later test was negative, the department said.

On the subject: Quarantine changed the life of dogs: Americans massively disassemble animals from shelters

Citing patient privacy, the department did not provide further information about the dog or the person who brought her to the hospital.

The dog died on the same day, the agency said. Samples taken from the dog, which were tested in a diagnostic laboratory, tested positive, and that the result was confirmed by a laboratory in the US Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Service, the statement said.

According to list compiled by the Department of Agriculture, just under three dozen animals in the United States have contracted the disease. Most of these infections have occurred after contact with people who have had the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The department says the risk of human infection from animals remains low.

As of August 7, when the Department of Agriculture's list was last updated, it has confirmed 13 canine cases in 8 states, including an earlier positive antibody test in North Carolina. According to the list, 11 cats have also contracted the disease, and 8 lions and tigers have been diagnosed with coronavirus at the Bronx Zoo.

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Last month, National Geographic reported that the first dog in the United States to test positive, a 7-year-old German shepherd from New York named Buddy, died on July 11, six weeks after it was confirmed to have the disease.

The magazine reported that Buddy had lymphoma, and it is unclear how much the cancer and the virus contributed to the animal's death.

Michael San Filippo, spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association, said most dogs who contract the disease are asymptomatic or show only mild signs of infection.

“This seems to indicate that this is not a serious problem for dogs,” he said. “But there is more we need to know, such as whether the virus can cause more serious problems when combined with other conditions. We continue to advise caution, keeping pets away from sick people, and practicing social distancing with your pet and other pets and people outside your home.”

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