'Covid-stricken' Jack Russell Daisy recovers from virus thanks to fresh mountain air of Alps holiday
A couple who were advised to take their Covid-stricken dog to the Alps to enjoy her last holiday were left stunned after she made a miracle recovery thanks to the fresh mountain air.
Owners Pete and Mo Murden, of Exeter, were left devastated when their eight-year-old Jack Russell cross, named Daisy, was given just weeks to live after contracting suspected coronavirus.
The pooch was rushed to the vets with symptoms including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath where she was given a lung wash.
Specialists advised the couple to still take Daisy on a holiday to the Alps, thinking it could be her last one - but upon taking the dog back to the vet after the holiday found that her lungs were clear.
She is now back home after making a full recovery carrying out her remarkable work acting as a diabetic detection dog for Mr Murden.
Adorable photographs show Daisy sitting in her own bicycle pet seat during bike rides through the mountains as well as going skiing with Mr Murden.
Owners Pete and Mo Murden, of Exeter, were left devastated when their eight-year-old Jack Russell cross Daisy was given just weeks to live after contracting suspected coronavirus
Adorable photographs show Daisy sitting in her own bicycle pet seat during bike rides through the mountains as well as going skiing with Mr Murden
Dogs CAN catch Covid from their owners - but cats are much more likely to be infected
Dogs can contract coronavirus from their owners, but cats are much more likely to be infected, a study published in July found.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota looked at the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes Covid-19 - in the two most popular pets, dogs and cats.
They found that eight per cent of cats have antibodies for the virus, suggesting they've previously been infected.
However, less than one per cent of dogs were found to have these antibodies, suggesting they may be less susceptible to the virus.
Hinh Ly, co-author of the study, said: 'Because companion animals can be the source of a range of infectious diseases, determining how susceptible the two most popular pet species in the United States are to SARS-CoV-2 - and how prevalent the disease may be among them - could have significant impacts for both human and animal health.'
'Daisy had constant coughing, loss of smell and taste, loss of appetite and a raging temperature, all symptoms of Covid-19,' Mr Murden said.
'She went from being a healthy, active bundle of fun and energy to a sick, lethargic poorly dog in a few hours.
'She used to run and play for hours every day and follow us everywhere, then within 24 hours she hardly had the strength to walk into the garden.'
Daisy was taken to Cave Veterinary Specialists, in Wellington, Somerset, where experts diagnosed Daisy with a consolidated right cranial lung lobe.
Clinical director and internal medicine specialist, Nele Van den Steen said the cause of the condition was unclear - and that Covid could not be ruled out.
Evidence has shown coronavirus can be transmitted to dogs but there is no evidence they can spread it to humans.
Mr Murden added: 'Nele initially thought it a very aggressive tumour in her lungs, pneumonia or something equally serious.
'We were devastated and so worried. We'd never felt so helpless. She deteriorated further and we took her back for a lung wash.
'Nele had explained the risks but we wanted to do everything to try and save Daisy.'
The Murdens had their holiday booked and Nele suggested they take Daisy and enjoy what could be her last few weeks, armed with a large supply of medication. But after many long walks in the mountain air, Daisy's symptoms subsided and she is still full of life.
Mr Murden added: 'Daisy is a bundle of joy and travels everywhere with us. Cave's care, dedication, treatments, lung wash, medication, skill and devotion to looking after animals saved Daisy.
The pooch was rushed to the vets with symptoms including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath where she was given a lung wash
The number of people falling ill with Covid in the UK has risen for the first time in three weeks, according to the ZOE symptom-tracking study
Daisy was adopted by the couple when she was four and immediately showed she was worth her weight in gold to diabetic Mr Murden
Could the therapy help Covid-infected humans? Wasn't it used to fight tuberculosis?
Scientists have said fresh air is as important in the fight against Covid as hand washing, wearing a face mask and social distancing.
But this is because a well-ventilated space can dilute and disperse the virus, rather than being a cure.
That’s why meeting others outdoors - or indoors with doors and windows open - is linked with a lower risk of transmitting the virus to others.
Experts have also advised schools and workplaces to stay ventilated and ensure there is sufficient air flow. In the early 1900s, fresh air was bandied as a treatment for airborne bacterial infection tuberculosis .
The pathogen, similar to Covid, is spread through tiny droplets of an infected persons’ coughs or sneezes.
Until the 1940s, when anti-TB drugs were discovered, patients were exposed to fresh air, especially in the mountains, and the sun, which were thought to purify the lungs and cure the condition.
But recent studies have found fresh air only to be helpful in stopping the spread of the virus in enclosed spaces, such as hospitals, because it dilutes the concentration of it in the air, reducing the risk of passing it on to others.
Instead, the NHS advises a six-month course of antibiotics should be taken to cure the condition. It also recommends an infected person to keep windows open when around friends and family to ensure a good supply of fresh air.
'The clean pure mountain air in the Alps also helped to heal her lungs. We couldn't believe the scans when we took Daisy back to Nele for a check after the holiday. Her lungs were clear.
'Nele, her team and everyone at Cave, plus the initial care and referral from primary care vets in Exeter, certainly saved Daisy. They all worked miracles.'
Daisy was adopted by the couple when she was four and immediately showed she was worth her weight in gold to diabetic Mr Murden.
Just three days after being adopted, Daisy started scratching Mr Murden's leg and wouldn't stop, leading him to test his blood sugars, which were low.
As soon as he took some glucose, Daisy stopped scratching and went back to playing around the house.
The beloved family pet has been acting as Mr Murden's early warning system ever since, as she can detect low blood sugars before he can.
Mr Murden added: 'Daisy wasn't trained to pick up my low blood sugars.
'It's something my diabetes specialist professor is also very interested as Daisy picked it up so quick with absolutely no training.'
Ms Van den Steen said: 'This was a really interesting case which we're delighted had a happy ending. It's great to see Daisy still going strong a year on from when we first treated her.
'While we were able to make a clear diagnosis, I am still not clear regarding the cause of Daisy's issues. Her almost-complete response to steroids would suggest that a bacterial or fungal pneumonia is excluded, and the same would count for a primary lung tumour.
'Temporary improvement with lymphoma would be possible but it would be highly unusual to be this long-lasting.
'Also, although no Covid-19 pneumonia in dogs had been reported previously, we could not rule it out.'