Picture of a brindle french bulldog to illustrate Caught by Coronavirus

Caught by Corona Virus

This week we did something we’ve never, ever done before. Both of us tested positive for Covid 19.We’ve been caught by the corona virus. Gotta say that we’re not really enjoying the experience. And there have been some unexpected symptoms. We expected stuffy nose, fever, chills. After all, that’s also how the vaccines took us. The real surprise is the incredibly painful sore throat. Every single time you swallow. Fran said “I’m getting tired of bracing myself every time I swallow.” I get it. It’s gotten old really fast.

Aside from feeling totally crappy, and in pain, we can’t help but feel we’re letting down our dogs. In case you didn’t know, we play training games with them every day. Until this week. We just don’t have the energy. 

They’re all holding up like troopers! When we head for the computer instead of the training area, they’re totally okay with it. I think it speaks to how attuned our dogs are to us, all of us. Our dogs seem to know when we don’t feel good. And they’re the best little care-givers around. 

Protocols in place

It’s kind of odd – we put coronavirus protocols in place at the shop years ago when it first raised its ugly head. We just dusted them off and we were all ready to go. Masking in the shop, Gloves when packing orders. It may be a little extreme, but just in case a customer is immune-compromised, we’d rather be too safe.

We’re very grateful that dogs don’t seem to get sick with Covid 19. If they did, ours would all have it simultaneously now. Because our little care-givers don’t want to leave our sides for even a moment.

Picture of a brindle french bulldog to illustrate Caught by Coronavirus

Does your dog play “nursemaid,” too? Hope’s Torque is the most obvious culprit. He lies down across Hope’s legs and doesn’t move. Until her knees fall asleep and she makes him shift over.

How do your dogs take care of you when you’re sick? Do they hover, or do they get scared? Hope’s Brussels Griffon boy Roc was appalled when Hope’s “face made noise.” Sneezes were the worst, but he wasn’t fond of coughing, either. During allergy season, his look of outrage was almost constant.

Appealing to your experience

We know this post isn’t really all that useful for other people, but we’d like to make it helpful for us. Have you had Covid 19? How long did it last? What was the worst of your symptoms? And can you please make it go away…

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14 thoughts on “Caught by Corona Virus

  1. loganbacon

    We had it just before Thanksgiving last year. Our throats were not as bad as yours but we did just feel like garbage. We were eligible for (and took) paxlovid – if you can get it, you should! In addition, we were just grumpy. The dogs were a bit disgruntled that we weren’t up to our usual outings to the park, but they survived, as did we. I recommend lots of hot tea.

    Reply
    1. Golly Gear Post author

      Thank you for the encouraging words – we’re so glad you’re better! And that “feeling like garbage” doesn’t last. We are on Paxlovid, thank you. We wish we liked tea….

      Reply
  2. Elisabeth

    So sorry to hear you are both sick.:( I have had Covid twice. Each time I have had really mild symptoms so I can’t be much help here since you both sound sicker. I have to say that the most recent variant had more sneezing but ran its course fairly quickly. I hope both of you are back on your feet soon.
    Boden as a herder tends to key off our energy level no matter what so if you are under the weather he just keeps us company more.
    Be well:)

    Reply
  3. Ellen Frank

    So sorry it finally found you. We were in the same boat and kinda smug about it until we went to our daughter’s graduation and came back with it. My husband tested positive almost immediately and took Paxlovid withing 48 hours of the first sniffles and his experience was extremely mild. I kept testing negative but still had symptoms so I went to get tested at the doctor….bingo! Positive. So I started Paxlovid. The worst of the symptoms were gone in 24 hours but the fatigue remained for about a week. My 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was a doll during the worst of it but after a couple of days was bouncy and ready to go. That made it a little difficult. I hope you both feel better soon!

    Reply
    1. Golly Gear Post author

      Thank you! We’re hearing that Paxlovid really seems to be helping people – glad to say we’re on it. It is tough on the pups who don’t understand why we don’t want to go play. We do – but we’re just not up to it right now.

      Reply
  4. carlene

    oh no! I had it (or something like it) before it became a thing (January 2020) I had it for 3 weeks; it was pretty bad. I think Olive saved my life because I had to use the stairs to take her out 3x a day & it kept me moving (but it was ROUGH). I still feel the effects.

    I hope yours is much quicker & less painful.

    Reply
  5. Connie

    2-3 days of the awful sore throat and body aches. Felt fine within 5 days but had a cough linger for 2 weeks. Hope you’re both feeling better soon!

    Reply
    1. Golly Gear Post author

      Thank you, Connie! The sore throat is the absolute worst. Every swallow is pain. Glad yours only lasted a few days. We’re going on four now, hoping for relief soon.

      Reply
  6. Deb H.

    Had COVID a year ago, got on Paxlovid and within 4 days was back to walking with my dogs. I had been vaccinated but not boosted at that time. I did not have any long term symptoms. My husband did not take Paxlovid and was ill about 12 days and tired for longer. My dogs are nursemaids when I’m sick. I think a few days off from training can be good for dogs.

    Reply
    1. Golly Gear Post author

      Glad you made a quick recovery – hoping the Paxlovid does the same for us. We don’t think the pups will forget anything in just a couple of days – but we all miss our regular routine.

      Reply

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