The USDA confirmed that the North Carolina pug initially thought to be the first US dog to test positive for COVID-19 never had the infection. If you’ve been watching Off Label Veterinary News for the past three months, this is no surprise. Each time stories about SARS-CoV-2 positive dogs and cats have emerged, we’ve cautioned that it’s important to distinguish between an active COVID-19 infection and incidental or “accidental” positive test results that only detect genetic fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We saw similar reporting during the 2003 SARS outbreak, and there is still no evidence that you can get Covid-19 from your pets.

The pugs that tested positive in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by Duke University researchers in April were positive only for genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, not an active infection. The dogs were also not initially tested to determine if they mounted an immune response to the human coronavirus. If the body creates antibodies to a virus, that indicates an actual or “active infection” was or is occurring. When the USDA performed validated followup antibody tests, the North Carolina dogs were negative, proving no active infection with COVID-19.

The current coronavirus outbreak is changing daily life for billions of people around the world. In addition to crashing economic markets, disrupting supplies and goods, and impeding access to basic services and entertainment, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing us to rethink how we work, what we eat, how and we interact socially. I believe the current coronavirus pandemic will serve as a catalyst for both human and veterinary telemedicine, a progression I’ve long supported. I’d like to share with you the factors influencing this movement, why every veterinary clinic should consider implementing some form of telemedicine, and what the immediate future holds for veterinary telemedicine.

A recent report from Hong Kong revealed a dog living with a novel coronavirus infection (Covid-19) patient had tested “weakly positive” for SARS-CoV-19, sending pet parents panicking for pet-sized facemasks. Since that news broke, veterinarians around the world have been inundated with calls, texts, and social media questions about whether or not dogs or cats can get coronavirus or spread it to humans. The science is pretty clear: It’s highly unlikely that your pet can get COVID-19 or spread it to people. While I remain completely comfortable cuddling with my pets, there remains some concern and cause for general precautions.