Category: Posts

We wanted to remind you that, even though the state mask mandate has been lifted, we are still requiring all clients to wear face coverings when interacting with our staff. Our decision in this matter comes down to our mission as a medical facility. Should a member of our team fall ill, we would be forced to close the hospital, meaning pets would miss out on crucial care. If you have any questions about our COVID-19 safety protocols, don’t hesitate to give us a call at [HOSPITAL PHONE]. Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation and for being the best pet parents around!

Just when you thought you had social distancing in the bag, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that your pets follow social distancing guidelines as well. (Insert sad dog emoji here).

While there’s no evidence that animals can pass the virus to humans, there are some confirmed cases where coronavirus has passed from a person to an animal.

So…what do you do if you have a new puppy that absolutely must have some meet & greets? Puppies have a limited window of time in the first four months which can significantly influence how they behave as adults, so it’s critical they experience new environments, people, and other animals. Skip it, and your pup could develop behavioral issues like fear aggression, separation anxiety or dog-to-dog reactivity.

But don’t panic. There are lots of fun experiences you can share with your new baby that don’t include new people and new dogs.

1. Surfaces. Introduce your puppy to a variety of surfaces to walk on like grass or gravel outside, carpet or wood floors inside. Be creative; see if your puppy will walk on a spread-out newspaper, paper bags or even a baking sheet. Try a dip in the tub—without water. Take things slowly, let your pup set the pace and offer lots of praise and rewards.

2. Handling. Practice handling for future visits to the vet or groomer. Try slowly massaging all parts of the body, including paws so nail trimming won’t be scary. If your pup is too young to go for walks, get him or her used to the weight of a leash attached to the collar.

3. Introductions at a distance. Sit on your porch, patio or lawn with your leashed pup and watch other dogs and people go by. As he gets older, go for short adventure walks or scavenger hunts—while maintaining appropriate social distance, of course.

4. Virtual socialization and training. Many trainers and training facilities are offering virtual puppy classes, and there are many online training resources and litters of great YouTube videos specifically for puppies as well. Puppies are even having their own ZOOM playdates, though sadly, they do lack the all-important rear sniffing component.

5. Sounds and scents. Doorbells, vacuum cleaners, car engines, bicycles, skateboards—your puppy needs exposure to anything they might encounter that makes sudden and/or loud noise. You can drop a can full of pennies, open an umbrella, or even have your phone ring loudly, then encourage your dog to remain calm.

6. DIY stranger. Dogs of all ages are having to adjust to greeting masked strangers, and it’s going to be important moving forward that your pup is ok with this. Try hats, glasses, and wigs, and get your family members to dress up, too.

7. Schedule and routine. Puppies and adult dogs do best on a schedule, and just like with human children, canine kids need a nap around the same time each day. Your pup also should learn to be calm when he is alone because sooner or later you’ll have to leave him by himself. A Kong-type toy stuffed with canned dog food or a frozen treat is a great idea so that he associates good things with your leaving.

In the end, you will eventually need direct contact to properly socialize your puppy, and if you are healthy and not at high risk for complications from COVID-19, you might consider playdates with another dog owner or two who is also healthy and willing.

If that’s not an option, the above activities will certainly help get you started. You can also check out the resources below for more ideas:

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

AKC COVID-19 Resource

Short answer: Probably not.

The transmission of the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, is primarily from person to person. That said, two domestic felines and several big cats at a zoo in New York have tested positive for the virus, and it is believed they were infected by their human caretakers.

All the infected animals had a mild respiratory illness and are expected to recover.

This week, veterinarians were cleared to begin testing pets for coronavirus. However, that doesn’t mean that all pets should be tested. At this time, the only animals being tested are those who have symptoms consistent with the novel coronavirus and who

• have had exposure or close contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19, or
• exposure to a high-risk environment where an outbreak occurred.

So what are the symptoms to watch for in your pet? General respiratory illness and diarrhea have been the most common signs, but unless your cat has been exposed to the virus in one of the ways above, it is not likely your pet has COVID-19.

The most important thing to remember at this point is that while our knowledge of this virus is still evolving, there is little to no risk of animals transmitting the virus to people.

If you or someone in your household has tested positive for the virus, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at [HOSPITAL TEL NUMBER] and we can have you talk with one of our veterinarians about testing for your pet.

Keeping your pet healthy and happy at home

If you’re working from home, sheltering in place or self-isolating, you’re no doubt spending more time with your pets. We can help you can keep them healthy and happy until their next office visit with these 10 pet-care tips, many of which take just 10 minutes.

1. Keep your pet’s coat clean and in good condition with regular brushing. Check for parasites, lumps or anything unusual you can report to us at your next visit.
2. Are you brushing your pet’s teeth? This may be a good time to learn how to provide good oral care to your dog or cat.
3. Give your cat or dog a massage to reduce anxiety, increase flexibility and improve circulation.
4. Are you stress baking? Try these vet-approved dog treats for a healthy alternative to commercial treats.
5. Keep up with your dog’s regular outdoor exercise routine, maintaining socially appropriate distances from other people.

6. Fun exercise indoors: If you have a long hallway or a staircase, toss a toy or a tennis ball for your dog to chase. Offer praise and a treat if he brings it back and drops it.
7. Cats chase balls, too – will yours? Give it a try and be sure to offer a tasty treat as a reward.
8. Teach your dog a new trick with short positive reinforcement training sessions.
9. Keep up with heartworm and flea and tick medications so your pets don’t develop secondary problems like hot spots, allergies and tick-borne disease.
10. Read your email aloud to your dog. Too boring? Try Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog.

In addition to trying out these tips, you can create a pet profile for an emergency pet caregiver, in case one is needed. Include our contact information, medical conditions and medications, food preferences as well as any behavioral tendencies. If you don’t already have one, create a pet disaster preparedness kit. Include the pet profile you created.

Consider fostering or even adopting a new friend to help your local shelter or make a donation to your favorite animal welfare organization. Keep informed and remember we are here to help [insert phone number].