For the Love of Vets

Protect Your Pets: How To Prepare for Stay-at-Home Orders

21 April 2020

Erin Steeves

If your local government is about to begin stay-at-home orders, it's time to get your family ready for the changes. If you have pets, include them in your readiness plans. Your pets need to be taken care of, as well. Here are some steps you can take to protect your pets during stay-at-home orders.

Schedule a Pet Clinic Appointment

If your community isn't under orders yet, schedule a veterinary checkup for your pets as soon as possible. You'll want your pets to have a clean bill of health before you begin self-isolation. If your pets have medical conditions that need treatment, plan for those. Ask for extra prescription medication. You may not be able to get to the pharmacy once stay-at-home orders go into effect. This is especially true if your veterinary clinic plans to shut down during the crisis.

Stock Up on Your Pet Essentials

If you're preparing for stay-at-home orders, you may have stocked up on essentials for your family. Don't forget to stock up on essentials for your pets as well. You should have enough food for your pets to last several weeks. You never know when there might be a shortage of pet food. You need to be prepared for that possibility. It's also a good idea to stock up on treats for your pets. They may suffer from emotional distress during self-isolation. Extra treats will help ease the distress.

Ensure Proper Pet Grooming

If your pets will be under self-isolation orders with you, ensure proper grooming. If you have dogs, bathe them at least once a week. That will prevent oils from building up on their skin. Be sure to clean their ears, as well. If you have cats, brush them on a daily basis. Wipe their fur with a damp cloth at least once a week. Be sure to wipe off your pets paws after walks. This will remove any germs or bacteria that might have attached to their feet during their walks.

Separate the Feeding Stations

If you have several pets, be sure to provide them with separate feeding stations. There is little known about how COVID-19 reacts to pets, but one dog in China has tested positive for the virus. There is a possibility that pets can transfer viruses to each other. Separate feeding stations reduce the risk of cross-contamination. It's also important that you wash your pets food and water dishes several times a week.

For more information on how to keep your pets safe through this pandemic, ask a local pet clinic like Animal Emergency Clinic for tips.

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