Inverness vet: Advice is to restrict close contact with our pets during coronavirus outbreak
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This is a column by Alison Laurie-Chalmers, who is a senior consultant at Crown Vets in Inverness.
The World Health Organisation has declared Covid-19 (coronavirus) a worldwide pandemic. In this worrying situation what do we need to know about our pets?
An emergency care plan for any pet would be very sensible. Have a folder with all your pet’s up-to-date details, identification/microchip details and vaccine details and any health history and any ongoing dietary needs and medications required.
Put together some emergency supplies and ensure that you have their usual food, food bowls, poo bags, leads, cat boxes, litter trays and any current medications to hand in case of an emergency situation.
If you are self-isolating because of confirmed Covid-19, or because of relevant symptoms, then you should not be leaving your home. Keeping your cat indoors and restricting any close contact with your pets is advised.
If you have an enclosed garden you may manage with your dog at home, or if possible your pets may be looked after by a family member, friend, dog walker or boarding kennels or cattery. Make sure that you have adequate supplies of any ongoing medications and their usual food.
If you are self-isolating as a precautionary measure due to compromised health or age, you are advised that you should still be staying at home. You may well be isolating with your pet and so you will have to be prepared for your pet’s care. You will not be able to bring your pet to the vet’s surgery yourself but hopefully a relative or friend can do so, if required.
If you are self-isolating it has been advised that you minimise close contact with your pets, avoiding facial contact, avoid any licking and also discourage them sleeping next to you. This advice is sensible and precautionary until more is known about this virus. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling your pets.
There is no evidence that Covid-19 can cause illness in pets. However, there is a concern that the virus may be carried by pets and that they may therefore become a source of the infection on their fur, similar to the risk of the virus being carried on any other surface.
There currently is no evidence that pet animals play a role in the spread of Covid-19 or that they can become sick themselves. So the advice here is precautionary and is very sensible.
Your vet clinics will all be taking proactive measures to try to reduce the health risks to both you as their clients and practice staff.
Vet clinics are open for emergency care treatments only.
This information and advice may change over the next few weeks.
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