A South Carolina dog needed to be euthanized after testing positive for the coronavirus earlier this month, officials at Clemson University announced.
A private vet decided to test the dog, a mix of 8 or 9-year-old herders, after one of its owners was confirmed to have the contagion, said Dr. Boyd Parr, state veterinarian and director of Clemson Livestock Poultry Health. in a statement Thursday.
Results from the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed that the dog had the virus on July 9, according to the statement.
The findings also indicated that the dog had a chronic health condition, leading to the decision to slaughter it.
The dog is the first confirmed animal to have the virus in South Carolina, according to Parr.
Also earlier this month, a 2-year-old canine from the Fort Worth area became the first dog in Lone Star State to test positive for COVID-19.
Last month, the FDA warned that humans could possibly transmit the coronavirus to their pets.
But “according to current knowledge, there is no evidence that pets play an important role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 to people,” Parr said.
“It is still a good idea to restrict contact with your pets and other animals,” added the doctor. “As with other people, if you are infected with COVID-19 to protect them from exposure to the virus as recommended by the CDC.”
In April, two domestic cats in New York tested positive for coronavirus, which has also sickened tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo.
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