In the unfortunate event that you contract COVID-19 and need care and/or hospitalisation, taking the time to prepare now will help keep your pet safe and cared for in the future.
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Supplies for your pet
Ensure you have enough supplies for your pet including food, litter, treats and other extras like grooming needs, shampoo, flea and worm treatments and so on.
If you cannot get supplies in person, order products online as many retailers are still able to deliver essential goods.
Alternatively, ask friends, family or neighbours to help, but avoid direct contact.
... bathing dogs with any shampoo is likely to remove any virus present on their hair, just as hand washing does for human hands.
Medications and special needs
If your pet requires medication or specialised foods, you should make sure you have a minimum of a one-month supply of medication and food available.
All medications and instructions should be clearly documented for the caregiver; ensure you include dosages, how to administer, how often to give the medication and have a script for the medication.
Designate a caregiver
You need to decide which option is best for you and your pet's wellbeing:
- Leaving your animals at your home with family, friends or a trusted pet sitter coming to care for them.
- Having family or friends take care of your animals in their own home.
For people that do not have family or friends that can care for their pets if they require hospitalisation, there may be other options available but these are likely to be limited.
Investigate these options in your local area; for example, boarding kennels, catteries and home care pet sitters.
Other options may become available as the situation develops, so keep looking for different possibilities in your area.
Being cared for by others
Ensure your pet is up to date with their vaccinations, in case they need to go to a boarding facility or to someone else's home.
Also make sure you have appropriate carriers or crates available for all your animals, should they need to be transported.
A contact list is a must for whoever is looking after your pet.
This should include the contact details for your pet's veterinarian (and pet insurance company if relevant) and anyone else who might be necessary for your pet's care.
Taking a pet into your care
If you are helping someone who has COVID-19 by taking care of their pets, as an extra precaution, wash the pet thoroughly before bringing the animal into a home where no one has been infected with the coronavirus.
Just as you might change your clothing and have a shower after being in contact with someone infectious before going home to your uninfected family, bathing dogs with any shampoo is likely to remove any virus present on their hair, just as hand washing does for human hands.
An alternative to bathing is to handle the animal while wearing gowns and gloves for the first three days of their care to reduce the potential for them to transmit viral particles which could be on their hair or skin (this may be needed for cats who would not allow themselves to be washed).
If you have any questions or concerns about companion animals and COVID-19, please see the RSPCA Knowledgebase: kb.rspca.org.au
