I never gave it a thought that dogs could be carriers of Ebola, till I read this article( Pet lovers around the world have flooded social media with adorable pictures of their animals as part of an international campaign to save the dog at the centre of an Ebola row in Spain. Twitter is awash with photographs of dogs, cats and birds which have been posted alongside the hashtag 'SalvemosAExcalibur' – which is Spanish for 'Let's save Excalibur'. It comes after Spanish authorities threatened to put down the beloved pet of Spanish nurse Teresa Romero Ramos – who tested positive for Ebola earlier this week – amid fears the animal could spread the killer disease. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...och-threatened-death-Spanish-owner-Ebola.html Then this one Ebola dogs can be infected with the deadly virus At least one major study suggests that dogs can be infected with the deadly virus without having symptoms. But whether or how likely they are to spread it to people is less clear. http://www.aol.com/article/2014/10/...d=maing-grid7|main5|dl2|sec1_lnk2&pLid=542165 Where does it stop? Kill everything that could potentially carry the virus?
It said on Sky news last night that the Spanish nurse's family dog had been destroyed. Such a sad decision for all concerned. As any animal that can transmit droplets could potentially spread ebola, I hope this doesn't become a witch hunt. I wondered how the vet dealt with the risk - a big yellow suit? Poor dog.
I don't believe it! I know you can get some worms or parasites from a dog but a virus....decidedly impossible. Ever catch or give your dog a cold, or cancer? For a second I thought about pink-eye and then remembered its caused by a bacteria not a virus. I want to see some government entity try to get to one of my dogs!
Poor Excalibur - his family tried their best to keep him alive. It is highly unlikely that a dog in the developed world could carry ebola as they are fed on a 'clean' diet. It has been stated that African dogs which are not fed, but scavenge for their living on dead animals and human waste, can carry ebola. The natural host is the fruit bat, but the virus has jumped the species barrier due to being used as a source of food - one of the dangers of bush meat. My heart sank when I saw the latest affected nurse was pictured with a Cavalier.
@CaroleC - that little Cavalier is being well looked after. http://www.today.com/pets/how-bentley-support-pours-dog-nurse-ebola-2D80218023
Thank you, that's brilliant - I am relieved to hear that Malka. Which then makes me ask, why did Excalibur have to die when they had left arrangements in place for him to survive without any human contact until one of them could return home to him? It really is a mad, sad world.
Bentley is Ebola-free! Nurse Nina Pham's beloved dog tests negative for deadly virus while in quarantine Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-dog-tests-negative-Ebola.html#ixzz3GzKf4PFW
You beat me to it Vee - this just came into my inbox as an alert! http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2014/10/ebola-infected-nurses-dog-tests-negative/ I am so pleased for Bentley and hope that Nina Pham recovers well and is able to be reunited with her beloved pet again very soon.
