A 7-year-old German shepherd named Buddy was the first dog tested COVID-19 positive in the United States died after being sick for three months, reported CNN.
It is not clear whether the dog died from the coronavirus or lymphoma.
The dog was sick in April, but a vet did not confirm until May that the animal was infected.
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed in June that Buddy was the first dog to be tested COVID-19 positive in the country,” CNN notified.
Buddy’s health continuously worsened and on July 11, the dog’s owner told National Geographic, that the dog was throwing up clotted blood.
As per the USDA, around 25 dogs and cats have been infected with coronavirus in the US.
“As there is no mandatory testing for animals in homes with COVID-19 people, it is unclear about the number of pets infected,” CNN said.
“The second and the sixth dog to test positive in Georgia, and South Carolina, respectively have both died; however, their deaths were because of other conditions,” according to National Geographic. “The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has guidance for caring a COVID-19 positive pet, but reliable data on how the virus affects pets is unavailable currently,” CNN reported.
