Mink are not a species most people think about. When they do, they typically think of mink coats or fur farming protests. While the mink industry has been on the decline in most regions for many years, there is still a massive number of mink being farmed for fur internationally. Some of these farms are
Update: COVID-19 in Animals Review Part 3: Pigs
What we know about SARS-CoV-2 in pigs hasn’t changed a lot since the first version of this post. It’s still a fairly “good news” situation, but one that could also use some more investigation.
Are pigs susceptible to SARS-CoV-2?
Kind of, but not really. There are somewhat conflicting experimental data, but the debate is
Update: COVID-19 in Animals Review Part 2: Dogs
There’s not as much to update about SARS-CoV-2 in dogs as there was in cats. We have more numbers than we did before, but the overall issues in dogs and our understanding of them haven’t really changed.
Spoiler alert: dogs and owners can both relax, as the risks are very limited.
Are dogs susceptible
Update: COVID-19 in Animals Review Part 1: Cats
Back in October/November 2020, I wrote a series of posts about what we know about SARS-CoV-2 and different animal species. It’s a dynamic field, so it’s about time I got around to updating them. We’ll start back at the beginning with one of the most susceptible domestic species: cats. A lot of research about
SARS-CoV-2 in Deer: USA
I’ve meant to write more about SARS-CoV-2 in deer, and USDA’s recent announcement of infected deer made me get my butt in gear (warning: long post approaching).
What do we know about SARS-CoV-2 infection in deer?
We now have three different pieces of evidence:
- Experimental infection
- It’s been known for a while that white-tailed deer
SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in White-Tailed Deer
Game-changing research?
Something that will be walked back in the future?
Something in between?
A press release from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) about a study looking at antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (and an infosheet about the same study) released today makes me wonder which of these will apply. The results
Challenging COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation
Click here to download and read an open letter from a large group of University of Guelph faculty concerned about COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
With freedom comes responsibility.
That applies to academic freedom too. It should not be used to provide cover for misrepresentation and misinformation.
Update: A Guide to Mitigating the Risk of Infection in Veterinary Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 2021)
The latest version of A Guide to Mitigating the Risk of Infection in Veterinary Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic (15-Jun-2021) has been released. It can also be accessed through the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Coronavirus FAQ webpage (member login required).
The main changes are a new section summarizing various considerations for re-opening of veterinary practices
Taking Care of a COVID-19 Patient’s Pet
I get asked about this topic a lot. Early in the pandemic, I wrote a post about options for caring for pets of people with COVID-19. Some things have changed a bit now that we know more know about SARS-CoV-2 in animals and the associated zoonotic risks, and we have a vaccine for people.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Dogs and Cats on Mink Farms
We have a lot of different concerns about SARS-CoV-2 on mink farms. Mink are really susceptible to this virus, and human-to-mink transmission isn’t uncommon, so if we continue to farm mink, we will continue to expose mink to SARS-CoV-2 as long as the virus is still circulating in people.
Two of the biggest concerns relate