Veterinarians ask pet owners to postpone routine check-ups

Not only humans are advised with their health, but are also asked to do the same with their pets. So humans are not the only ones who are affected after all. All the veterinarians have made similar changes and have asked their pet owners to postpone routine check-ups as a precautionary measure.

Pet owners are assured that there is no evidence that it can be passed from pets to humans though animals are the likely original source of the virus, says Dr. Henry Croft, owner of Loyalhanna Veterinary Clinic in Cook Township.

Croft says there have been concerns about the same due to a report from Hong Kong that a dog was diagnosed with a covid-19 infection and subsequently died.

A report from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, the 17-year-old Pomeranian was quarantined after the positive test. It showed no clinic signs of the disease and was released after two weeks when a follow-up test proved negative.

The dog’s death was attributed to unrelated health issues and old age.

“There is no evidence that the dog contracted covid-19, nor that it could have passed the viral cause to another human or animal,” says the report.

A piece of advice:

A person with covid-19 could get some on the pet, so there could be viral components on the pet, although we don’t think it could last very long.

People should practice the same hand-washing regimen after handling a pet that they are using in all circumstances now, said Dr. Constance Matson, owner of Donovan Veterinary Clinic in Ligonier.

“Wash your hands and don’t touch your face, just use good hygienic practices,” Matson said.