Boris Johnson’s dog Dilyn is thought to have caught coronavirus at the time the Prime Minister was taken into intensive care.

It is said the Jack Russell terrier, who lives at Number 10 with Mr Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds, was wheezy and too tired to go for walks.

‘It’s well known the virus did the rounds through Downing Street, but it appears to have affected little Dilyn too,’ a source told The Sun.

‘He wasn’t tested so we can’t be sure, but around the same time as Carrie came down with it he was very lethargic, tired and didn’t hop about as much.

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‘Looking back, it’s pretty likely he had it.

‘Fortunately, like the PM, he’s made a full recovery and is fit as a fiddle.’

The dog is believed to have caught the virus in April when Mr Johnson was fighting for his life at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Then-pregnant Ms Symonds, 32, posted a picture on Instagram with Dilyn while she was self-isolating for Covid-19.

It is widely known cats and dogs can catch coronavirus, but they only usually have mild symptoms and it is unclear whether they can pass it to their owners.

The Government website says: ‘It is rare for an animal to contract coronavirus, and they tend to show only mild symptoms and recover within a few days.

‘There is no evidence that coronavirus passes between pet animals or that pets transmit the virus to humans.’

Dilyn was a rescue dog adopted from animal charity Friends of Animals Wales, and moved into Downing Street in September last year.

The dog has his own Instagram page run by Ms Symonds, and now has more than 2,000 followers.

His name is a Welsh word, linking to his background, which means ‘to follow’ or ‘pursue’.

It is also said to mean ‘loyal’ when used as a name in Ireland.

The PM previously said Dilyn has helped him lower stress levels by taking regular walks with the dog.

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