Go Ahead and Kiss Your Dogs! Global Authorities Agree COVID-19 Cannot be Transmitted By Pets

Michael Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), and Chair of the WSAVA One Health Committee commented that the current situation is changing not just day by day but minute by minute, but for now, this is a human-to-human disease.

“The world opinion right now is there is no evidence that pets can transmit COVID-19 to people,” said Dr. Lappin.

Lappin noted that while more data is needed, the potential fomite transmission should be low. To date, there has been no documented transmission from a dog or cat to a human.

Continue reading here:

Update From Greyhound Pet Adoption - Northwest

We’ve had several inquiries lately about the status of getting new dogs, and we want to update you on recent activities. Jackie, our Procurement Coordinator, has spent a great deal of time over the last 3-4 weeks arranging transport for groups of dogs, only to have those plans change in response to the pandemic. 

A group of Irish dogs scheduled to arrive in late February was put on hold and the flight cancelled; those dogs are still with our partner, Flying Irish Greyhounds, who are looking for more foster homes in their country until flights can once again enter the U.S. 

A group we planned to receive from Alabama in early March was cancelled when a kennel staff person tested positive for CV-19. We’ve made tentative arrangements to pick up a group of dogs in Kansas in mid-April, keep some and transport the rest to an adoption group in Seattle. 

Some of you have asked if we will be involved with the estimated 1500 dogs or so now available for adoption because several Florida tracks closed permanently this month. Jackie is talking with her contacts in the racing industry to get details and coordinate with other adoption groups, but we anticipate right now that a large number of these newly-released dogs will be transported to breeding farms in Kansas, and that we will be able to travel to Abilene to pick up 20 or so at a time. 

But all these plans are provisional and subject to change. We will keep you advised when we’re confident we can make a haul to Kansas and have new dogs for adoption. Please take care of yourself, your family and your greyhounds if you already have one or more. They are wonderful companions, especially in times like these.

GPA - Northwest

COVID-19 forces dog tracks in Florida to close for good, meaning 1,500 greyhounds need new homes

As racing tracks close due to coronavirus, 1,500 greyhounds are now looking for homes.

In 2018, the state of Florida passed a bill that outlaws dog racing in the state. According to Awesome Greyhound Adoptions, racing was supposed to continue through December 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced tracks to close, and many won't reopen.

"We need someplace for them to go," Carolee Ellison of Awesome Greyhound Adoptions said.

Continue reading here:

Treating Fido via FaceTime: Veterinarians adapt as coronavirus spreads

When Keith went to his vet last Friday, we were greeted with "curbside" service, as no one was allowed to enter the clinic.  Someone from the clinic staff came out for Keith and led him inside the clinic via the front door.  Twenty minutes later, Keith emerged from the rear door, newly splinted.

This is an interesting article, highlighting our current "socially distancing" environment.  Hopefully this article is not behind a pay wall.....

------------------------------------------------------

From the Washington Post:

By Kim Kavin 

March 26, 2020 at 4:00 a.m. PDT

In January, Jen Reeder’s Labrador retriever Rio had a life-threatening bout of colitis. He pulled through after a weekend at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Colorado, but when he started having diarrhea March 16, Reeder called the veterinarian.

The coronavirus crisis already had forced restaurants and bars to close, and people were being urged to stay home. But the vet said Rio needed to come in.

Only Rio, however. When Reeder arrived at the clinic, “a nice lady in a lab coat and mask came out and handed us a clipboard and a hot pink, giant laminated card,” she said. Soon, a masked technician came to collect Rio from their car. The dog jumped out and pulled his leash taut — creating just enough social distance the tech could put a different leash on him. He was delivered back to Reeder after the visit, and within a couple days, he was outside chasing squirrels.

Continue reading here:

Icelandic Plus Dog and Cat Treats Recall

Dear Fellow Dog Lover, 

 

Icelandic Plus LLC of Fort Washington, PA, is recalling its Capelin Dog and Cat Treats because they're made with fish that have the potential to cause botulism poisoning.

 

The products were sold nationwide at various independent pet specialty stores. For details, please visit the following link:

 

Icelandic Plus Dog and Cat Treats Recall

COVID-19 Miscellaneous FAQ Regarding Pets & Livestock

COVID-19 miscellaneous FAQ

By Scott Weese on March 14, 2020

It’s pretty much full time COVID-19 around here, and I’ve gotten behind on posting. I figured it might be useful to recap some of the more common questions that are going around:

Does the SARS-CoV-2 virus (virus that causes COVID-19) infect animals?

Yes. But…
…The virus likely originated in and animal of some kind, and has since been found in a relatively healthy dog, but we don’t know much more than that. From a transmission standpoint, this is a human disease. Whether it’s purely human or predominantly human is a lingering question. If it’s purely a human disease, we can ignore the animal side (except for their potential to be contaminated fomites, more on that below). If it’s predominantly a human disease with minor animal involvement, the focus still needs to be on people, but there are some animal aspects worth considering.

Continue reading here:

Keith's Broken Leg Update

I'm sorry to report that the news is not good.  Keith has cancer in his left, front leg.  The leg fracture is not healing properly and is not likely to ever heal properly.

Consequently, I'm now faced with a difficult decision.  I'm exploring the possibility of amputation.  I'm not at all sure that I want to go down that road.  Keith's vet, Dr. Fletcher, wants me to carefully consider amputation as an option.  My main concern with Keith's leg amputation is his age:  Keith will be 10 in April.

However, I've been in contact with other GPA folks that have had leg amputations on their Greyhounds, and most have been quite positive and happy with the result, even at an advanced age.

It's uncertain whether the cancer has spread to other parts of Keith's body.  The next step is to take x-rays of his chest & lungs.

As always, I want to do what is best for Keith.

As for now, he continues to wear a splint.  

I'll continue to post progress reports.

-Barry

Dogs, Cats Can't Pass On Coronavirus, But You Could Give It To Them.

HONG KONG (AP) — Pet cats and dogs cannot pass the new coronavirus on to humans, but they can test positive for low levels of the pathogen if they catch it from their owners.

That's the conclusion of Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department after a dog in quarantine tested weakly positive for the virus Feb. 27, Feb. 28 and March 2, using the canine's nasal and oral cavity samples.

A unidentified spokesman for the department was quoted in a news release as saying. “There is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of infection of COVID-19 or that they become sick."

Continue reading here

March 8th Greyhound Walk

When: March 8th, Sunday, @ 1:30 PM 

Where: University of Oregon Campus 14th and Kincaid, Eugene, OR 97403 

Let's meet in the parking lot on the west side of campus at the corner of 14th St. and Kincaid. We can stroll the grounds and get a look at the new Hayward Field. 

If you have any questions about the walk location, contact Monica: podarke@comcast.net

Greyt Happenings For Willamette Valley Greyhound Lovers - March, 2020

The March, 2020 issue of Greyt Happenings For Willamette Valley Greyhound Lovers can be downloaded here.  Enjoy!

March Birthdays!

                                               Nephro
                                    Born March 20, 2010
                                           10 Years Old

Play

Born March 21, 2011

9 Years Old