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Coronavirus enteritis, Viral enteritis
Coronavirus disease, Viral inflammation of the small intestine
AffectedAnimals:
Dogs, cats, humans, cattle, pigs, horses, chickens, rats, and mice. Different members of the coronavirus family have a predilection for specific species; thus, a coronavirus infection in the dog is highly unlikely to be contagious to a person or other animal.
Overview:
Usually, when a dog contracts coronavirus, the worse case scenario is that the animal will suffer from diarrhea and related symptoms for several days. Puppies that are infected by the virus, however, can develop severe dehydration from persistent vomiting and diarrhea caused by the inflammation occurring in the small intestine. These severely affected puppies will often require veterinary attention to provide the supportive care necessary to fight off the infection.
The coronavirus is transmitted when a dog ingests feces from another dog that has the virus. Because the coronavirus is highly contagious, animals that live in kennels or participate in dog shows are at a high risk for contracting it and should be vaccinated.
There is no specific treatment for coronavirus, but supportive care such as fluid therapy and antibiotics is sometimes needed, especially for young puppies that develop more serious symptoms. Among adult dogs that get an infection from the coronavirus, the diarrhea will usually resolve on its own, generally within a week or two. When compounded by other diseases, the diarrhea can take longer to resolve.
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