Dog tests positive for SARS-CoV-2

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Niagara-area dog tests positive for COVID-19  …but most pets are still safe

A dog in Ontario’s Niagara Region has tested positive for COVID-19, although researchers say most pet owners shouldn’t be worried.

Positive tests for novel coronavirus in dogs are rare because they are typically asymptomatic and they get over the ailment quickly.

Scott Weese, the chief of infection control at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, is part of a study that found the positive case in the Niagara area. He said that any household where a person has COVID-19 should include their pets in the quarantine as a precautionary measure.

“Your dog is less likely to be infected than the people in your household, but it’s possible and we don’t want to create the chance that your dog can pass it on,” said Weese on Monday morning.

He also noted that pet owners should not be worried about their animals falling ill.

“It’s a human virus,” said Weese. “It likes people and there are some animal species that can be effected but that’s a spillover.

“We’ve got probably not uncommon human-to-dog infection but the dogs rarely, if ever, get sick.”

Other animals, like non-human primates and minks, are much more susceptible to the virus than dogs.

Weese said that of approximately 40 pets tested in the study only the dog has been confirmed as having the virus. A cat in the study had some lingering antibodies from COVID-19, suggesting it had once been sick.

Testing animals for the study has been difficult logistically. The household first has to discover that a person has COVID-19, then contact the researchers to have their pets checked, and then the test has to be administered within the relatively small window that the animal may be sick.

“We’re looking at a few different aspects of (COVID-19) like how it’s moving and if it’s moving between people and animals,” said Weese. The antibody testing — after the virus has passed — is usually how it’s confirmed an animal had the coronavirus, he said.

“It looks like it’s probably not that uncommon for people to spread it to their pets and for the pets to not have any consequences from it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2020.

Food for thought in Pets

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Tips on healthy additives and applications.

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Apple cider vinegar may have application for pet health and should be explored more completely to verify its benefits and possible drawbacks in pet food formulations.

Lysine is an essential or indispensable amino acid. In other words, the dog and cat are unable to produce an adequate quantity to support their normal physiological functions and must therefore obtain it from the diet. If the diet is inadequate it can result in depressed intake, retarded growth and development, and graying of feathers and fur among various species.

L-carnitine is a supplemental amino acid (ingredient) commonly found in low-fat, “light” or so-called diet foods for both dogs and cats. For the most part, the body produces an adequate amount of carnitine (L-isomer metabolite) to fulfill its role in the conversion of fatty acids into usable energy.

Methionine is one of the 10-plus essential amino acids that are required by both the cat and dog.

Taurine One of the first reports in the literature regarding taurine was its isolation from ox bile in 1901; hence its name was derived from “Taurus” the bull. That’s why, among other reasons, today it is found associated with energy drinks like Red Bull, fueling the perception of strength and vitality.

Coconut meal could be a novel starch source in pet food diets for dogs and cats.

Corn additive has many critics, but there are some real positives to this classic pet food ingredient.

The recent dilated cardiomyopathy webinar, hosted by Petfood Industry, prompted great questions regarding grain-free diets for dogs.

Don’t panic yet about peas and potatoes in dog food diets. There is likely more to the canine dilated cardiomyopathy story than the current focus on only grain-free pet foods would suggest.

Rice is longstanding staple for calories in dog and cat diets. It has been a staple in pet food diets for decades and despite some minor controversies remains a high-quality supply of calories.

Wild rice could fit well in the drive for unique and different in a modern pet food.

Sprouted grains and malt, once a staple for brewing, are finding utility in pet foods.

Chia seed has a lot to offer as the next new ingredient option in pet food.

Sowing the seeds of change in dog and cat diets. Taking a nuanced look at the grains category could reveal new opportunities for pet food formulators.

Maltodextrins, a unique sugar for special pet food applications. Further research and exploration will be key to finding ways to best utilize this specialized ingredient.

Millet, An alternative ingredient in dog and cat food? With good protein quality and more fat than most grains, millet has the potential to serve as an ‘alternative’ ingredient in pet food.

Buckwheat, a viable grain-free pet food ingredient. In this era of grain-free, novel and exotic ingredient-containing foods, is there a nutritional or processing reason that buckwheat remains relatively obscure to the pet food market?

Alfalfa, a smart choice for dog and cat food. The use of alfalfa in some dog and cat foods has created questions with consumers – specifically, whether alfalfa is an ingredient that belongs in these foods. Unfortunately, there isn’t a compelling or definitive answer for the petfood company, veterinarian or pet owner.

Ancient grains for today’s petfood, Amaranth and quinoa. As more and more petfood brands strive for differentiation, the search for non-traditional ingredients intensifies. We have seen new meats and meals, tubers in many varieties and now legume seeds and beans becoming prominent.

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