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Taking care of yourself and your pets during COVID-19 pandemic

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Posted at 12:46 PM, Mar 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-18 12:54:28-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — There are still many questions surrounding COVID-19 and some of them have to do with animals. As a caution, there are things we should keep in mind when interacting with our pets.

At Eastland Animal Clinic in Lexington, it’s still pretty much business as usual.

”Definitely a lot of the wellness visits for vaccinations have been curtailed. Only necessary, we do have surgeries coming in,” said Dr. Patricia Riggs.

Staff members have made some changes though, like increasing disinfecting efforts and offering a curbside pickup for appointments to help limit the number of people inside the building.

”If they are uncomfortable coming in, we do recommend they just call from the car,” said Dr. Riggs. “We can go out and get their pet, take a history, see the pet in the room without the owner and then we can settle up later.”

It shows how we can carry on the rule of social distancing with our furry friends, which is recommended.

While there is no evidence yet that COVID-19 can spread between animals and humans, Dr. Riggs says if you’ve tested positive or were exposed to someone with the virus and are in quarantine, it’s best to avoid interacting with your pet.

”Limit the hugs and kisses because we just don’t know how this is going to affect everybody and the pets yet,” she said.

If another family member or friend can take care of your pet, have them help.

If you have a service animal, it’s recommended you wear a mask and continue to practice good hygiene. Wash your hands before and after every contact.

However, if you are healthy, there’s no reason to worry or take drastic measures, like sending your pet to a shelter.

You can learn more information on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website, AVMA.org.