Canine coronavirus disease (CCoV) is a highly infectious intestinal infection in dogs, especially puppies. The virus is from the Coronaviridae family. There are many types of coronavirus, each affecting different animal species. Feline, canine, and human types are all different and don’t cross-infect different species. The clinical signs are also all very much different.
Most dogs are infected by the virus by oral contact with infected faecal 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 lead to coronavirus transmission. The incubation period from exposure to clinical signs is up to fouur days. The duration of illness is two to ten days in most dogs. Secondary infections by bacteria, parasites, and other viruses may develop and make the illness worse. Coronavirus infection of the intestinal villi (lining of the intestine) makes the cells more susceptible to parvovirus infection. This causes a much more severe disease than either virus separately and can be fatal.
Most canine coronavirus infections cause 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 diarrhoea, typically sudden in onset, with lethargy and decreased appetite.
Dogs usually shed the virus for six to nine days but may be carriers of the virus for up to six months after infection.
There are many causes of diarrhoea in dogs. If your puppy or dog has diarrhoea that lasts longer than 24 hours, or experiences loss of appetite and fatigue, it should rather be seen by a vet.
Antibiotics don’t treat viruses but can prevent or control secondary bacterial infections. A dehydrated patient may require intravenous fluids (a drip) to correct the fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
Canine coronavirus vaccines are available. This vaccine is not recommended for all dogs and will be given based on your dog’s lifestyle and risk assessment. At our clinic we don’t routinely vaccinate for this virus as we don’t see a high number of cases in our area. Should cases increase, this would be a virus we would include in your dog’s core vaccination.