With the outbreak of Covid-19, we are all making sure that we know what we need to do to stay safe and to help protect the safety of our friends, family and neighbours. But what do we need to do for our pets? As pet owners, we always want to do what is best for our loving little friends, whether we have cats, dogs, or other animals. In these times, with various new concerns running through our heads, this is perhaps even more the case than usual. So, in case you are getting worried about the health and happiness of your pet in these strange times, this is just a quick overview of how best to look after them in this pandemic period.
Can I take my dog for a walk if I don’t have the virus?
You may take your dog on a walk if you do not have the virus and if you have no reason to be self-isolating. This will be an important opportunity to exercise for both you and your dog. You should keep your dog on a leash if you are walking in a public park, and still keep your 2 metre distance from other walkers and joggers while you are outside.
Can I take my dog out for a walk if I am self isolating?
If you are self-isolating, then you may not take your pet out for a walk, unless you have your own private garden in which to do so. Although animals cannot become infected with coronavirus, there is reason to believe that their fur may be able to temporarily carry the virus if they have been touched by someone who is infected, so you should also wash your hands before and after contact with your dog or cat. To make this less of a stressful time for your dog, you might want to think about asking a friend or hiring a professional dog walker to take your dog out for a walk while you are self-isolating. If you have a cat and you are self-isolating, you should try to ensure that they remain indoors with you.
How to entertain your pet at home
To make sure that your cats do not become stressed out in this situation, you can set up some puzzle feeders, scratching posts, cat furniture and toys to keep them entertained. If you are ordering any of these items, you might even then set up some of the cardboard boxes in which they are delivered as little fun areas for your cat to explore! As such, if you are self isolating, you should also be careful to wash your hands thoroughly before and after you have been in physical contact with your dog and generally to keep your distance more so than you usually would with your own pet. There are lots of things you can do with your pet to keep them entertained without even going for a walk. For dogs, this might include tugs of war, treasure hunts with their favourite treats, or building them a cute little dog den.
Keep some discipline and structure
As much as it will be a very fun and calming time for all to spend this extra time with your dog, it is important that you are strong enough to spend some time away from your dog too. This can be done for example by setting up your dog with some toys in the living room area and then going off to the kitchen for an hour or so. The reason for this bit of self-discipline is that it will mean that, by not being quite so attached, it won’t be so hard for your pet when you are once more able to leave your home more regularly – and maybe even easier for you in the same way! In addition, just as it will be important to structure your own day during lockdown, you should keep feeding time and walk time to specific and consistent times in the day.
Taking your pets to the vets
Vets are still open, as there has not been any evidence that animals can be sources of infection in the same way that humans can spread the virus to other humans. Veterinary practices will be observing social distancing codes with each other in the surgery for their own health and the health of others. If you must self-isolate but your dog, cat, or any other pet, needs to see the vet, then you ought to phone the vet in question in order to organise for them to pick up your pet if it is essential.
Concerns about pets and Covid-19
Thankfully, there is currently no evidence that pets can become sick from Covid-19, nor that they can pass on the virus in the same way that humans can. However, it is advised that you wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds if and when you touch your dog or cat. It is also advised that you give your dog a wash more regularly too, once again especially if they have been out of your home or garden.
Furthermore, there has been a misleading story going around that anti-bacterial hand sanitiser is poisonous to dogs if they lick it. This, it should be made clear, is not true. Whereas dogs would be in very big trouble if they licked Ethylene Glycol, it is actually Ethanol which is in hand sanitiser. This would not be good for your dog (or you for that matter!) if a whole bottle was consumed. But it is not dangerous in the levels which are applied to hands, with any excess tending to evaporate fairly quickly in any case.