Dogs + Ebola: What Every Owner Needs to Know From the American Kennel Club and the AKC Canine Health Foundation

In recent weeks, dog owners, supporters and donors have looked to the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) and the American Kennel Club for credible information regarding Ebola virus in dogs.

At issue is whether humans can get Ebola from dogs, and whether dogs can even get Ebola in a form that is transmittable. Due to the complexities of the virus, only time and research will answer these questions.

“In humans, Ebola virus is detected using a diagnostic test for Ebola RNA.  In dogs, scientists will have to establish the presence of Ebola virus RNA along with whether the virus is replication competent and infectious,” said Shila Nordone, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer for the AKC Canine Health Foundation. “Only then will we have evidence that canine infection is a public health threat. All told, this will take many months.”

Dr. J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, a preeminent expert on infectious disease transmission in the dog, as well as the AVMA have provided the most current consensus opinions on Ebola in the dog.

Learn more about why dogs are part of the conversation surrounding Ebloa virus in CHF's white paper.

Over the next several months as research advances, AKC CHF and the American Kennel Club will keep the public updated on any and all progress made to better understand the role of the dog as a reservoir for the Ebola virus. Visit akcchf.org and akc.org for all the latest.