Keeping Your Pets Safe During Covid-19 Pandemic

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says COVID 19 is spread to people through individual to individual. There have been no reports of pets or domesticated animals getting sick or spreading the coronavirus in the U.S. Likewise, the World Health Organization has expressed that there is no proof that dogs or felines have gotten sick with this specific infection. That being said it is always best to lean on the side of caution. Keep up to date with important organizations like The Humane Society for updates on our current knowledge on COVID 19 and its effects on our pets.

Wash Your Hands

Play it safe. In spite of the fact that there is no present proof that proposes the coronavirus can be transmitted to or from our furry friends, it's extremely important to carry on with sanitation habits suggested by CDC and treat the situation as if it were possible to transmit. This includes washing your hands consistently for the duration of the day and when direct contact with your pets, their food/water or their items. Also be mindful keeping your pet clean is critical especially if they are traveling or in contact with others. Check out our previous article How to Make Bathing a Dog Easier for tips on simplifying the process.

Keep a Backup of Pet Supplies

There is no need to hoard dog food, we’ve seen how hoarding our own food is affecting our communities due to the COVID 19, but it is safe to have at least one back up supply of food or other essentials. Set up a pack with basic supplies to have close by in case of a crisis. Your survival kit ought to incorporate a 30-day supply of your pets' drugs and two weeks to a month supply of food. You don’t want to run out and be unable to find any at the store.

Assign an Emergency Caregiver

Proactively recognize somebody who could help with the short-or long-haul care in the occasion you can't be there for your pet. Think about a relative, companion, neighbor or your preferred boarding office. On the off chance that your care giver’s help is required, make it simpler for them by having the entirety of your pets' information readily available. Consider including things like patterned behavior/schedule, food choices, medical conditions and medications that are needed and their veterinary information. Along with this make sure all supplies needed are easy to find.

Think About Your Health

In a certain sense your health is your pet’s health. How can a parent be the best parent they can be if they are out sick? Even if you have the previously mentioned back up it is best to practice the CDC’s and the local communities’ laws and restrictions to make sure you are safe from COVID 19 and are able to take care of your fur children. These guidelines include keeping a social distance of 6 feet or more, washing your hands, not touching your face and keeping travel to a minimum. As of 4/2/2020 you can still walk your dog and go to the store for essentials just be mindful when you’re out in the world. Different Ways to Integrate Your Dog into Your Exercise Routine is the perfect post for those interested in still keeping yourself and your pet active during the current pandemic.

Consider Your Veterinary Clinic

With Shelter-in-Place Orders only a handful of businesses are open. This does include veterinary clinics as they are considered essential. While many pet owners have received calls canceling generic checkup and non-essential visits due to a short staff emergency readiness is available. especially in cases of emergency. If a trip is needed be sure to practice social distancing and be mindful of trying your best not to bring any potential hazards into the clinic. While there is currently no proof of the spread to and from animals the health of the already limited staff is vital to community pets. Be sure to contact your pet’s clinic in advance to see if there are any required special procedures that come with upcoming appointments. Make sure you are prepared for your upcoming visit by checking out Preparing for Your Dogs Annual Vet Visit.

If can be hard to make the right choices as a pet parent to protect yourself and the health of your pet as they don’t understand the circumstances and the fears that come with this recent spread of COVID 19. Remember social distancing is not social isolation, reach out if you need to talk to someone via phone, message or video chat. We are all in this together and together we can keep our pets and community safe.

Check out the below links to stay updated on safety and health procedures put forth by the CDC and our local government.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

https://www.cookcountypublichealth.org/

Written by James Novotny