Published: 06 Mar 2020 | Last Updated: 06 Mar 2020 17:05:25

We are aware of a press release from the Hong Kong Government that states that the dog held in quarantine following a weak positive result for COVID-19 (following diagnosis of the infection in the dog’s owner) has now shown repeated weak positive results for the virus.

Experts from the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have been consulted by the authorities in Hong Kong, and have unanimously agreed that these results suggest that the dog has a low-level of infection.  However the information available to date does not indicate that the dog, which remains well, is able to transmit the virus further, either to other dogs or to people. 

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association advice, updated today, is that notwithstanding the above result there is no conclusive evidence that dogs can fall ill due to COVID-19 or be a risk to other dogs or to people. 

• Hong Kong Government: Low-level of infection with COVID-19 in Pet Dog
• British Small Animal Veterinary Association: COVID-19 and Pets: Update