How to take care of your pets during COVID-19 pandemic

Gulf News

Dubai-based veterinarian shares tips on how to take care of our pets during quarantine  See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos  Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km  #COVID19 #pets #coronavirus

Transcript

00:00Should we be social distancing from our pets?

00:03Between yourself and your own pets?

00:06No, you shouldn't.

00:07No, this is a time when we need our cuddles.

00:10We actually need to spend time with our pets.

00:12Between yourself and your own pets?

00:31No, you shouldn't.

00:33No, this is a time when we need our cuddles.

00:36We actually need to spend time with our pets.

00:38Between ourselves and other people's pets?

00:41Then yes.

00:43When you're out on a walk, which we can't at the moment because of lockdown,

00:47you do want to social distance from those other people and those other pets.

00:51Now, as far as that goes, there is no evidence that dogs can pass the disease on to people.

01:00However, if somebody who does have COVID-19 coughs or sneezes on your pet,

01:07then in theory you can transmit that virus for a few hours from the dog's fur to yourself.

01:12So please do social distance your pets from other people.

01:15And that includes, please do disinfect their feet when they come in.

01:18And that's just your simple soap and water washing exactly the way you would do yourself.

01:23If you are in a house with other people, then you should be separately isolating within that home.

01:28And that does please mean separately isolating from your pets as well.

01:33If you are the only person within your house, then you should be self-isolating.

01:39If you're suspected of having a problem of this disease, then with your pet.

01:44But your pet should stay in absolute isolation with you for the length of time that you are asked to self-isolate

01:50to make sure that there's no problems there.

01:52The advice at the moment is that we cannot walk them.

01:55We cannot take our pets out in public.

01:57Because our pets can't get exercised in the same way, they need mental stimulation.

02:01We need to be playing games with them.

02:03We need to be teaching them new tricks, doing new things.

02:06We need to be giving them food toys.

02:08We need to be spending more time working with puzzles with them to keep them happy.

02:13But please do bear in mind that a lot of our pets sleep an awful lot more during the day than we ever gave them credit for.

02:19So maybe they still want to do that.

02:21We are either collecting your pets and bringing them into the practice, so that is with complete social distancing.

02:27You deliver your pet to the main door of your building.

02:31Our driver in protective mask and gloves takes your pet from you, disinfects the cage, and takes the pet in to us.

02:39We then communicate by phone, WhatsApp, to make sure that we are taking care of your pet for you,

02:46carry out any treatment that's required, and then disinfect your pet's cage again and bring your pet back to you

02:53to hand back to you at the door of your building.

02:57Please don't ask our drivers to come into your building, they are not allowed.

03:01If you bring your pets to us, then again you are not, as a client, allowed into the building.

03:07We will discuss, as vets, we will discuss with you your pet's problem, and we will discuss that with you outside.

03:14We will be wearing masks, we will be wearing gloves, we will be practicing full social distancing.

03:19We will take your pet inside, we will examine your pet, and carry out any treatments that are required for your pet,

03:27and then bring your pet back to you and discuss all treatment options with you.

03:32Unfortunately, neither of those two tests or vaccines are available, and you cannot at the moment.

03:39But what other advice to give to you?

03:42I think at the moment, everyone needs to stay safe, everyone needs to social distance,

03:47everyone needs to keep their pet's social distance and as happy as we can.

03:50Try and create as much routine as you can, but do make sure that you are checking out any problems,

03:56because unfortunately, the world hasn't stopped just for COVID-19.

04:00Keep an eye out for other conditions coming along.

04:03And we are open, as vets, we are open.

04:06We are happy to see your pet and make sure it is a safe and pleasant experience for all of us.

04:13Please stay safe.

04:17Stay home. Stay safe.

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