Coronavirus Disease

What is Coronavirus Disease?

The coronavirus disorder targets your pet’s intestines. And so, this disease manifests itself with a variety of gastrointestinal related symptoms like diarrhoea and inappetence (lack of appetite). Most likely due to diarrhoea, the canine will also be lethargic and appear weak. With regard to the stool’s characteristics, the dog may have an orangey colored faeces, not to mention very smelly at the same time.

In most cases, coronavirus disease can easily be managed since this is just one of the mildest forms of diseases that affect the digestive system. However, this condition can prove to be a very serious one when it is coupled with other viruses, let’s say the Parvo virus. If this is the case, the stools will have blood and mucus with each passing. But generally, coronavirus disease is not much of an alarm to dog owners. Prognosis is very good especially when proper treatment has been administered.

The only problem with this condition is not on the management and treatment but on the detection. It is very difficult to distinguish this condition from all the other diseases that have almost the same gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea, which is a symptom for many other diseases. Thus, the vet must first obtain a stool specimen and observe it in the lab to properly identify whether the main perpetrator is really the coronavirus.

The viral transmission

As this disease can be harboured through the faecal oral route, dogs usually get infected when they eat from their food bowls. These bowls are the most common items that are contaminated easily with infected stools. Nevertheless, the virus can also be shed with the dog’s saliva so having two or more dogs in close contact with each other (not knowing that one of those canines are infected) can ultimately transfer the virus to your dog. Unfortunately, dogs almost always want to lick anything. Once the virus has been transmitted, the eruption of the first sign or symptom will be evident in a matter of a few days from the date of exposure.

The treatment

Like most gastrointestinal diseases, coronavirus disease is managed on a per symptom basis. Thus, one can alleviate the dog’s condition, not by dealing with the actual virus but, by concentrating his efforts in managing the individual symptoms. It’s just like the common cold virus wherein there’s no specific drug that can kill the actual virus. Thus, your pet simply needs to endure all those symptoms until the virus has been overpowered by his immune system.
To the surprise of many pet owners, they often question why their dogs are being prescribed antibiotics when clearly these medications don’t kill viruses but bacteria. The truth regarding this matter is that these drugs are prescribed to prevent the occurrence of secondary infections that may be caused by some unwanted bacteria.

Other treatment options include fluid therapy which is done by giving adequate clean fluids for the dog to drink. This can also mean the provision of intravenous fluids when the degree of dehydration is a lot more serious than expected. Along with this therapy, electrolytes may also be prescribed to supplement the losses brought about by diarrhoea. Moreover, proper dietary management has to be observed to ensure that your pet takes in enough nutrients.

Disclaimer

This pet health article is for reference only.

If your pet is showing any symptoms or distress, and you suspect your pet is ill CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY.