Canine Coronavirus Disease in Dogs
By Rania Gollakner, BS, DVM, MPH; Ernest Ward, DVM
 
What is canine coronavirus disease?
Canine coronavirus disease, known as CCoV, is a highly infectious intestinal infection in dogs, especially puppies. Canine coronavirus is usually short-lived but may cause considerable abdominal discomfort for a few days in infected dogs. The virus is from the Coronaviridae family. The virus gets its name from the fact that when viewed from above under an electron microscope, the virus has a ring of projections that appear like a coronet, or a small crown made of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. There are many types of coronavirus, each affecting different animal species, including humans.
"Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is not the same virus as SARS-CoV-2 that causes the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)."
Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is not the same virus as SARS-CoV-2 that causes the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). CCoV does not affect people. CCoV causes gastrointestinal problems in dogs, as opposed to respiratory disease.
See the handout “SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)” for information on the disease caused by SARS-CO-V-2.

How is canine coronavirus transmitted?
Most cases of canine coronavirus are contracted by oral contact with infected fecal matter. A dog may also become infected by eating from contaminated food bowls or by direct contact with an infected dog.
"Crowding and unsanitary conditions favor transmission."
Crowding and unsanitary conditions lead to coronavirus transmission. The incubation period from ingestion to clinical signs is one to four days. The duration of illness is two to ten days in most dogs. Secondary infections by bacteria, parasites, and other viruses may develop and prolong illness and recovery. Dogs may be carriers of the disease for up to six months (180 days) after infection.
  
What are the signs of canine coronavirus?
Most canine coronavirus infections are sub-clinical and produce few clinical signs in dogs. Occasionally an infection may cause more severe symptoms, particularly in young puppies. The most typical sign associated with canine coronavirus is diarrhea, typically sudden in onset, which may be accompanied by lethargy and decreased appetite. The stool is loose, with a fetid odor and orange tint. It may contain blood or mucus. If a puppy has a mixed infection, for instance both coronavirus and parvovirus (see handout "Parvovirus in Dogs"), the illness will be more severe.

Are there diseases that can be confused with canine coronavirus?
There are many causes of diarrhea in dogs. Severe cases of coronavirus can be easily confused with parvovirus, and they may occur at the same time. Be sure to see your veterinarian if your dog has diarrhea that does not resolve within twenty- four hours or is associated with significant lethargy or loss of appetite.

Is there any treatment?
There is no specific treatment for canine coronavirus.
"Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, but may be useful in controlling secondary bacterial infections."
Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, but may be useful in controlling secondary bacterial infections. Withholding food for twenty-four hours after diarrhea ceases and gradually reintroducing small amounts of food may be the only required treatment. A dehydrated patient may require intravenous fluids to correct the fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Early medical intervention is the key to successful treatment of severe cases.

What about vaccines?
Canine coronavirus vaccines are available. This vaccine is not recommended for all dogs and will be administered based on your dog's lifestyle and risk assessment. This vaccine will only work for the CCoV type of coronavirus. It is not effective for the prevention of COVID-19.

​As a valued member of the Hope Animal Medical Center family, we appreciate the trust you place in us to provide your pets with Exceptional Care. Recently, there has been much attention worldwide focusing on the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), and we wanted to update you on the steps we are taking to protect the valued members of the Hope AMC family, both clients, and employees. 
 
Hope Animal Medical Center will continue our regular operating hours until further notice. If an effort to help those that are in self-imposed quarantine, we have come up with some alternatives when it comes to your pet’s healthcare. If you require our services during the time of quarantine, please contact us so that we can discuss the best option for you, your pet, and the clinic. We understand that your pet’s health is extremely important to you and us as well.
 
We are monitoring the evolving situation and want to highlight a few of the precautionary measures we are reinforcing and implementing:

• Frequent and thorough handwashing: We are reinforcing with Team Members careful handwashing before, continuously throughout, and after their shifts.
• Team Member health: All Team Members experiencing any flu-like symptoms must stay home and take advantage of our paid sick leave policy. Managers are required to send home any Team Members showing signs of flu-like symptoms and report any such incidences. 
• Sanitation and cleanliness: We have increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting our clinic with special attention to high-contact surfaces, such as chairs, tables, equipment, and computers, to ensure our clinic remains open to serve you with the highest standard of care.

 
As we do our part to keep our clinic clean and safe, we encourage you to take notice of measures from the CDC for preventing the spread of viruses. We know – some of these seem obvious, and some prove to be harder than you think (turns out we touch our faces a lot – who knew?), but following them goes a long way toward staying healthy and keeping our communities safe:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

 

In the meantime, stay safe and healthy and enjoy this extra time with your pets! 
 
 
The Doctors and Staff of
Hope Animal Medical Center

Hope Animal Medical Center strives to provide exceptional care for your exceptional pets. There has been a growing concern in the medical community regarding errors in filling prescriptions via telephone or fax machine. Verbal communication over the phone can often be misunderstood or misconstrued and the resulting effect can be an incorrect dosing of a medication or the wrong medication altogether. Prescriptions that are faxed to online distributors using their pre-set forms have been altered without our authorization by these companies, which again, results in our patients getting incorrect medication.

For this reason all prescriptions for outside pharmacies requires a written script that owners must pick up and take or send to the pharmacy of their choice. Alternatively, prescriptions for medications that we carry can easily be filled here at the hospital. For the safety and well-being of your pet, we will no longer call or fax prescriptions to outside pharmacies.

The exception to this will be prescriptions filled through Road Runner Pharmacy, our trusted compounding pharmacy in Arizona and Vet's First Choice, Hope's online pharmacy. We work closely with these pharmacy's to obtain specifically dosed medications for our patients, and they provide excellent customer service. We will handle the paperwork involved in filling these prescriptions. These prescriptions will still be shipped directly to our clients; however, the prescriptions from Road Runner Pharmacy will now be billed through our hospital to protect the privacy of our clients’ billing information.

Please allow 24 hours for prescription requests to be processed. 

We hope you understand why this action is necessary. Please feel free to call us at 706-546-7879 if you have any questions or concerns.

We wanted to remind all of our clients that Hope Animal Medical Center offers Cold Laser Healing Therapy as another one of our innovative treatment options. The laser beam stimulates the cells and tissues, reduces inflammation and helps minimize pain of many chronic conditions like arthritis, hip dysplasia, tendonitis and more.

How Does It Work?
The cold laser light penetrates deep into the tissue and provides energy that encourages cellular respiration to promote healing. The laser beam also affects nerves directly decreasing the diffusion of pain signals to the central nervous system. The net result is increased rate of healing and decreased pain.

How long will each treatment take?
The treatment time depends on how chronic the condition is and the depth the laser light needs to reach to be effective. However, almost all treatments will be between 2 and 10 minutes.

How many treatments will my pet need?
The number of treatments can vary greatly based on the condition, but many pet owners notice a positive difference within 3 or 4 treatments.

Some Benefits of using Cold Laser Therapy include:

• Pain relief
• Reduced inflammation
• Accelerated tissue repair and cell growth
• Improved circulation by stimulation
• Increased cellular metabolic activity
• Reduced fibrous tissue formation
• Improved nerve function by eliciting regeneration
• Accelerated wound healing
• Stimulated immune system

What is the cost of the treatments?
The cost of Cold Laser Therapy is very affordable and it will depend on the number of treatments needed. Individual treatments are $50.00 or we have a package of 6 treatments for $250.00.
Please contact Hope Animal Medical Center at 706-546-7879 if you are interested in scheduling a laser consultation or have any questions regarding treatment. We look forward to helping you and your pet discover the benefits of using Cold laser therapy!

“Loving Treats” That Can Be Lethal!
February is a time of year when loved ones express their affection for each other by giving and receiving chocolates and flowers. It is nice to remember our pets on this special day, as well. However, it is NEVER in the best interest of our four-legged friends to give them easy access to chocolates or flowers. As many of you already know, if a pet eats chocolate, there can be serious health consequences. Some of the common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea and even seizures.

Call Your Veterinarian Immediately, Don’t Wait!
If you suspect that your pet has ingested any amount of chocolate, you may want to call your veterinarian to alert them of the situation. Depending on the type of chocolate eaten, you may have a life-threatening situation or you may just have a mess to clean up with no implications. Your vet may ask you to bring your pet into the office immediately so they can empty your pet’s stomach and give medications to help reverse the effects. Milk chocolate often only causes diarrhea and vomiting, but the ingestion of even a small amount of dark chocolate or baking chocolate can, in some cases, cause death. It is better to give your pet a treat that is made especially for dogs or cats, and keep your own goodies away from curious paws and mouths.
A beautiful bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers also can have serious health consequences for our pets. Curious cats and dogs often can’t resist chewing and eating the leaves and petals of a florist’s creations, which can cause digestive problems, diarrhea in pets, heart problems, kidney failure, liver disease and/or seizures. That’s why it is so important to display your flowers out of your pets’ reach. Certain flowers can be toxic if eaten. If you suspect or can confirm that your pet has eaten plant leaves or flower petals, the identity of the plant or flower is crucial in determining its toxicity. You can either call the ASPCA’S National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435, or Hope Animal Medical Center at 706-546-7879.

Common Valentine’s Presents that Can Cause Diarrhea in Pets!
Common flowers and plants- including some often found in your own backyard-that are especially toxic and can be fatal if ingested include: Oleander, Lilies, Sago Palm nuts and seeds, Castor Bean, Azalea, Rhododendron, Chrysanthemum, Peace Lily, Tulip bulbs, Amaryllis, English Ivy and Autumn Crocus.

Everyone loves to receive chocolates, flowers or plants on Valentine’s Day. By making sure they are kept away from nosy canines or hungry felines, you can enjoy them safely with no fears of accidentally poisoning your pets.

Remember to make the day special for pets by giving lots of love, extra attention and a few safe pet treats.

ASPCA poison control has compiled a list which contains plants that have been reported as having systemic effects on animals and / or intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Please note that the information contained in this plant list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather a compilation of the most frequently encountered plants.

Be advised that the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats. Plants listed as either non-toxic, or potentially toxic with mild GI upset as their symptoms are not expected to be life-threatening to your pets.
​
If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, or if you have any further questions regarding the information contained in this database, contact either us at Hope Animal Medical Center or the APCC 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435.

www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

​New Year's Eve Safety Tips for Pets

1. Be observant of your pet's response to loud noises. Thunderstorms and fireworks are a known causes for pet anxiety, but celebration party favors and popping champagne corks can be just as traumatizing. If you are hosting a party, make sure your pets are placed in a comfortable area that is separate from the activities. Make sure they have plenty of water and are secure. When possible, refrain from keeping them outside, as fireworks and other neighbors celebrating can lead to the same ruckus and worry.
   
   
2. Always keep your pet's tags on his collar. In the case he does get spooked and bolt for an open door or gate, an ID tag will be imperative to getting him home safely.
   
   
3. Beware of alcohol! Many pets can be drawn to glasses of beer or liquor that have been left behind after the celebration is over. Consumption of alcohol can be highly dangerous for animals, and even deadly. Make sure to thoroughly clean up the area before you allow your pets to enter. Always keep a close eye on them, and never give them any alcohol as a treat or joke.
   
   
4. Be aware of party decorations. Balloons, streamers, party hats or confetti can be unhealthy for an animal if ingested. While decorating for your party, keep the animals in a separate area where they do not have access to the decorations. If they do get into them, consult a veterinarian immediately.