Buddy, the dog that died from coronavirus, was a German Shepherd (photo illustration) - HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP

The first dog to test positive for coronavirus in the United States has died, reports National Geographic magazine , after experiencing symptoms apparently similar to those of many humans. Buddy, a seven-year-old German Shepherd, fell ill in April, around the same time his owner Robert Mahoney was himself recovering from Covid-19.

Buddy, the first dog in the US diagnosed with the coronavirus, has died. His family shared their frustrations and heartbreak with @natashaldaly https://t.co/jxDUNm8spv

- National Geographic (@NatGeo) July 30, 2020

Buddy appeared to have a stuffy nose and difficulty breathing, and his condition continued to deteriorate over the weeks. The owner of the animal and his wife, who live in New York, finally decided to euthanize the dog on July 11, when the dog started to vomit blood clots, to have blood in his urine and to not being able to walk.

An equally positive family puppy

The family told National Geographic they suspected he had the disease but it was difficult to confirm. “Without a shadow of a doubt, I thought [Buddy] was positive,” said Robert Mahoney. Not only were several vets in his area closed due to the pandemic, some were also skeptical that an animal could catch Covid-19.

A clinic was finally able to confirm that the dog was indeed infected, and that the other animal in the family, a 10-month-old puppy who had never been sick, had antibodies to the virus. Doctors who treated Buddy later found that the canine was also likely suffering from lymphoma, which could indicate that like humans, animals with a medical history may be more likely to become seriously ill from the novel coronavirus.

Officially, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), pets do not often transmit the virus to their owners. Twelve dogs and ten cats have reportedly tested positive for coronavirus in the United States.

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  • Animals
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  • Coronavirus
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  • Covid 19