How to practice social distancing with your pet this summer, from the RSPCA.
The RSPCA have recently pulled together some answers to the FAQ's around our pets during the coronavirus outbreak. For government advice, please visit the direct pages depending on the country you are in.
Please click here to read how Scruffs® is responding to and monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the RSPCA's anima welfare expert, Dr Samantha Gaines:
Can I still walk my dog?
"Yes, you can use your daily exercise to walk your dog. In England, from the 13th of May, you can take unlimited exercise and you are allowed to drive to different destinations. In Wales, from the 11th of May, people are allowed to exercise more than once a day but you must stay local and start and end your exercise from your home.
At a local level, where dogs can be walked may also be restricted by local authority Public Spaces Protection Orders."
Can pets catch COVID-19?
"A very small number of animals; pets and laboratory animals, have been reported to have shown symptoms of COVID-19. Some of these animals were deliberately exposed to the disease and in an artificial setting which did not represent real life. The others were cases where the virus has reportedly been passed from a person to an animal. Importantly, to date, there is no known evidence of the virus passing from pets to humans."
What should I do if my pet is ill?
"If your pet is poorly or you have any concerns about their health, please phone your vet for advice. It is important not to take them to the practice unless you are told to do so. If your vet is not open then you should see if there is a message online or phone the practice and see if there is information on the answerphone advising them where to go."
What should I do if I have concerns about my pets behaviour?
Pets can develop a range of behaviour problems, such as aggression, destructiveness, inappropriate toileting, self-mutilation, inappropriate vocal behaviour, nervousness, excessive manifestations of fear. Sometimes these behaviours can be caused by an underlying medical or health issue so it is important to get your pet checked by a vet first to rule this out and they can then refer you to a behaviour expert if necessary. Given the coronavirus pandemic, you will need to discuss your pet's behaviour over the phone with the vet and the behaviour expert will carry out a remote consultation but this is something they are used to doing. It is important to find a suitably qualified behaviourist.
For the full article, please click here to be redirected to the RSPCA.