EXCUSIVE

| EXCLUSIVE

Breaking the myths of Covid-19 in pets

Upon hearing alarming and bizarre incidents of people abandoning their pets out of fear of contracting Covid-19. Tulip magazine decided to put these fears at bay. We interviewed Dr Jasleen Kaur, a veterinarian and owner of Allvet Pet Clinic in

Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. She has completed her education from Sri Venkateshwara Veterinary University, Hyderabad. She explained how Covid-19 could affect a pet and what are the necessary actions to be taken in such cases.

If the pet parent has contracted Covid-19, what should be done to keep the pet safe from the virus? If anyone in the family has tested positive for covid, it is advisable to keep the pet away from him/her. If that's not possible in a single owner household, don't hug/ kiss them and try avoiding too much physical contact with them. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling your pet and wear a mask whenever near your pet.

What should be the course of action if the pet has contracted Covid-19? So far, there have been hardly any documented cases of pets contracting covid-19, however, if your pet has tested positive or if you feel he is showing symptoms for the same, please isolate your pet from other pets and humans as you would for any human. Contact your vet immediately and give a detailed description of the symptoms. Your vet will advise medication accordingly. Please do not try to disinfect your pet using sanitizer or alcohol wipes. There have been no cases of pets transmitting covid to humans.

What diet will boost immunity in pets? Ideally, pets maintained on a good quality dog food diet have proper immunity and do not need any additional supplements. However, if the pets are maintained on home food or a mixture of home food and pet food, immunity boosters/ supplements prescribed by a vet can be given to help your pet.

How does Covid-19 affect animals different from humans? Covid-19 affecting pets is highly uncommon, unlike humans. There have been less than a handful of cases of Covid-19 in pets worldwide. Most of these cases have been mild and not life-threatening. However, if a pet does show any symptoms or tests positive, similar isolation and quarantine protocols are recommended.

How can we get our pets tested? Pets showing symptoms can be tested through a simple PCR test by sending a swab sample for the same. It should be done only if your pet is showing the symptoms or if the vet suspects your pet to have Covid-19.

In the case of a Covid patient at home, should the pet be kept in isolation? If anyone in the house tests positive for Covid-19, the pet should be isolated from that particular person. He/she can still be taken for small walks to carry out his usual business. You can wipe him/her down with a damp cloth or a pet wipe before and after the walk. Make sure you never use any alcohol wipes or sanitizer or human products to clean or disinfect the pet. These can be extremely harmful to their skin.

What medicines have been seen to help animals with Covid-19? Currently, there is very little that has been documented when it comes to Covid-19 in pets. The knowledge on the medication that has shown to help is extremely limited. The treatment so far has mainly been symptomatic and aimed at improving the pet's overall immunity.

What is your take on Covid-19 in animals? Can it be cured completely or will it leave some effects on the pet later on? Most of the pets affected with covid-19 recovered without any complications or lingering effects. Pets that tested positive for covid-19, many of them showed absolutely no symptoms and were tested only because the pet parents wanted to do the test for their satisfaction.

How can we prevent Covid-19 in pets? The best way to prevent covid-19 in pets is to isolate a positive person as soon as someone tests positive and to follow all the basic prevention steps like wiping your pet down with pet wipes after taking him/her out, avoiding crowded areas unless absolutely needed and by giving your pet a good diet.