Northern Territory Senator Sam McMahon says a Darwin dog has tested positive for coronavirus using a rapid antigen test after she conducted two telehealth consultations with the symptomatic pet.
This is despite an animal virus expert saying rapid antigen tests were not accurate tests for dogs.
But Senator McMahon, who is a qualified vet, said she believed it was an Australian first.
"It's quite an unusual case … the dog appears to have contracted COVID from its owner," Senator McMahon told ABC Radio Darwin.
The ABC understands no cases of coronavirus have been recorded in dogs so far in Australia.
The dog, a three-year-old crossbreed, developed a "loud cough" after its owner tested positive for the virus.
"They called me because their dog — which is young, healthy and fully vaccinated with routine canine vaccinations — was suddenly coughing," Senator McMahon said.
The canine returned a positive rapid antigen test on February 9.
Senator McMahon said she was "satisfied that the owner had performed the test correctly and that the result was highly likely to be accurate".
Validity of RAT tests on canines questioned
The Department of Agriculture's animal health committee recommends confirmatory testing be performed at the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness if an animal is tested for COVID-19.
However, Senator McMahon said "no further tests were carried out due to the owner's COVID status".
Veterinary epidemiologist Dr Farhid Hemmatzadeh said rapid antigen tests were not reliable tests for dogs.
"Of course, the test detects the COVID-19 viral antigen, but regarding all un-evaluated materials in dog nasal cavity, the results are not reliable as a valid test in dogs," Dr Hemmatzadeh said.
Not as sick as a human
While reports of animals being infected with COVID-19 have been reported around the world, Dr Hemmatzadeh said it was an uncommon event in dogs.
"In rare cases, the infection is transient and will not produce illness in dogs," Dr Hemmatzadeh said.
"The virus stays in the nasal cavity of the exposed dogs for a couple of days, and it will disappear when the dogs are not exposed to the virus from other people.
"Serious illness in the infected cases is extremely rare."
There is currently no vaccine against COVID-19 for pets and, according to the RSPCA, there is no need for one, given pets appear to exhibit only mild symptoms.
Veterinary microbiologist Professor Glenn Browning there was no evidence of pets transmitting the virus to humans or playing any role in spreading COVID-19.
"There may be particular dogs and pets that are susceptible to infection, but it isn't something to be particularly concerned about," Professor Browning said.
"People are the danger to the pets rather than pets being a danger to [their] owners."
The dog in question has since made a full recovery, Senator McMahon said.
