In the past couple of months, we have all been struggling with social distancing. School has been out and our children have been pushing our buttons a little too much. There’s an easy way to help simmer the frustration and that’s your pet. You have probably wondered how safe it is to take my dog on a walk? What about hiring a pet sitter or walker? In this blog, we’ll discuss the best tips and tricks for your pet during and after Covid- 19.
In some ways, the Covid-19 era has been golden for pets and pet parents, with more time than ever to nurture the special bond between us. Keeping them busy can be hard, that’s why there’s plenty of ways to help with that. Playing enrichment games such as snuffle mats or puzzle games, spending time in different rooms, say he’s in a room playing with his Nepal Dog Chew while you’re in another room reading a book. Or work on your crate training. To get my dog to like his crate as if it was a home, his safe space, I would place a freshly worn t-shirt in his crate for him to feel like I was close.
Base what you do with your pet on your old schedule. Think of things like doggy daycare, investing in a crate, how to get in at least a half a hour of exercise a day, and budgeting for new services like dog walkers or pet sitters. Chews may help your dog’s anxiety for giving them something to do for an extended period of time. These chews can help with mental and physical stimulating which helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread Covid-19 to people but there are precautions you can take if you or a family member has Covid-19. People with Covid-19 and in home isolation should be advised to restrict interaction with household animals, in addition to following other prevention measures to protect others from Covid-19.
What can I do to ensure the health and safety of myself and my pets during walking & sitting services?
Staying healthy is of utmost importance. We compiled some tips below to help keep everyone safe during stays and on walks. We encourage you to be up front with your sitter about your own safety preferences.
- If you are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has, please communicate that to your sitter prior to booking.
- Prior to any service, do your best to ask questions virtually. Certain services offers several tools to help facilitate these conversations:
- Exchange introductory information via messaging
- Coordinate information about stays with your sitter to utilize video calling
- Make a voice call
- We encourage you to have conversations with your sitter about the measures you’re taking to protect yourself. Confirm that your safety precautions align with your sitter’s.
- Check to see if your preferred sitter has noted any Covid-19 safety preferences in their profile.
- We recommend that everyone in the community wash their hands frequently.
- Keep your interactions short and try to maintain a 6-foot distance.
- Wear a cloth face covering, as recommended by the CDC.
- Sanitize your dog’s leash before handing it to your sitter and request that they do the same before giving it back.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily
- Find health information specific to your state
Specifically, while a person with Covid-19 is symptomatic, they should maintain separation from household animals as they would with other household members, and avoid direct contact with pets, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, sleeping in the same location, and sharing food or bedding. If possible, a household member should be designated to care for pets in the home and should follow standard handwashing practices before and after interacting with the household animal. If a person with Covid-19 must care for pets or other animals, they should ensure they wash their hands before and after caring for them. Service animals should be permitted to remain with their handlers. Care for household animals that are sick or injured should be coordinated with the household’s local veterinarian. In order to ensure the veterinary clinic is prepared for the household animal, the owner should call ahead and arrange the hospital or clinic visit.
To try our chews: https://nepaldogchews.com/shop-now/
Interim Guidance https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/animals/interim-guidance-managing-people-in-home-care-and-isolation-who-have-pets.html
For more CDC recommendations visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html