Coronavirus and Your Pet

Over the course of the last month, our daily lives have been flipped upside down. With the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, many individuals have found themselves spending the majority of their time at home in order to comply with social distancing regulations. For pet owners, some may be wondering how this pandemic is/will affect their furry friends at home. While more information on COVID-19 is surfacing every day, below are some initial facts and tips to keep everyone in your household happy and healthy!

1. Research Indicates That Animals are not at Risk.

As of now, there is no research supporting the idea that pets could catch COVID-19. The CDC actually states that pets have other kinds of coronaviruses specific to themselves that cannot be transferred to humans and have no relation to the current COVID-19 outbreak.

2. Help Your Pet Social Distance Too!

While your pets may not be at risk for contracting COVID-19 currently, there is still much research to be done. It is a good idea to help your pet social distance by keeping them away from other humans, and for now, pets outside of your household.

3. Time to Wash Up!

As the saying goes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Coronavirus has the potential to live on surfaces anywhere from a few hours to several days. Take this extra time to wash and disinfect any pet supplies: leashes, clothes, bedding, toys, collars, food bowls, etc. These precautions will help to keep you and your pet’s environment as safe and clean as possible.

4. We Prescribe Snuggles.

You may be lacking attention and interaction from your human friends, but nothing is stopping you from cuddling up with your furry ones. As long as you are not showing any symptoms of illness, a few hugs and a warm blanket won’t do any harm! Enjoying some quality time with your furry best friend can bring some much-needed happiness to your day.

5. Have a Question? Ask AVC!

Do you have any additional questions or concerns about COVID-19 and your pet? While we are still learning about the disease and don’t have all of the answers yet, we would love to help. Give us a call or visit our website to get in contact with our knowledgeable staff at AVC today!