Coronavirus causes severe gastroenteritis. Sporadic pathology can have epidemic outcomes in the presence of numerous animals such as kennels, farms and training schools.
The infectious vehicle is made up of the faeces of infected animals or dogs that have been cured and healthy carriers. Puppies are more prone to contagion but dogs can be affected at any age.
The first symptoms usually appear from the first day of the infection: vomiting, diarrhea or soft and foul-smelling stools, rich in greenish-yellow mucus and sometimes hemorrhagic.
Diarrhea can last for months resulting in dehydration and weight loss of the dog. This type of infection can be fatal especially in puppies. Medical therapy is supportive and is aimed at fighting dehydration and the onset of secondary infections.
