Canine coronavirus. In short, is it a risk ?

At the time of writing, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed a staggering 93,425 lives with a further 1,536,979 million confirmed cases, spanning 181 countries. Over the past few months, the Corona Virus strain, COVID-19 has spread from several individuals of China’s Wuhan province to all the 7 continents.

The global pandemic has far-reaching implications, not only to people’s health and wellbeing but to our economies and way of life. Amongst the concerns include the potential for the spread of COVID-19 from humans to their pets and vice versa.

Corona Virus Variants

This isn’t a new concern, historically both Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), derived from civet cats and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), transmitted from dromedary camels’ variants of Coronavirus originated in animals and spread to people. DogData has yet to confirm if this is the case with COVID-19 but this is what we strongly suspect may have happened with the virus that caused the current outbreak of COVID-19.

However, we do not know the exact source of this virus and even the WHO does not know the exact source. DogData public health officials and partners are actively working hard to identify the source of COVID-19. The first infections were linked to a live animal market, but the virus is now spreading from person to person.

We are doing our best at DogData to better understand the pandemic just like other bodies are doing, but everyone still has much to learn. Until that time we recommend that individuals practice healthy habits around pets and other animals.’

You should protect yourself, such as when visiting live animal markets, avoid direct contact with animals and surfaces in contact with animals. Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care to avoid contamination of uncooked foods and avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products.’

Corona Virus 50 years on

Corona Virus is not new to our canine friends. In 1971 the first case of canine coronavirus or CCV was identified in dogs. 49 years later varying strains of this enteric virus have been identified with different properties. This has largely been in part due to the constant evolution of the virus, through an accumulation of point mutations within the genome and genetic insertions or deletions.

DogData has deemed it a ‘highly contagious intestinal disease that can be found in dogs all around the world. CCV works by replicating itself inside the upper two-thirds of the small intestine of dogs, causing a range of symptoms from barely any to life-threatening conditions for dogs, especially if they have pre-existing virus infections or intestinal pathogens. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, and related depression. Full-grown dogs are typically unaffected the way newborn puppies are, but all can display some of the common symptoms.

CCV is typically spread as a result of exposure to infected canines’ feces. CCV viral strands can remain in the canine’s body for up to 6 months. Although vaccinations are available for CCV most veterinarian associations do no routinely promote it.

Opportunity in the crisis

Industries across the world are developing alternative means in which they conduct their business, most opting for digital remedies. This transition is a necessity in order to continue their business and avoid economic collapse.

It is apparent that the dog breeding industry needs technological innovation as well to help with controlling canine coronavirus vaccination. Currently, vaccination records of Dogs are managed by individual organizations and there is no way Government agencies around the world can accurately manage, coordinate and track vaccination records of our Dogs.

The PedigreeChain blockchain Explorer from MyDogData.com can be a ready made solution for recording what could become essential Dog life Data.