Vet: take care using disinfectants around pets during coronavirus pandemic
Veterinarians have been deemed an essential service and are asking pet owners to take particular care while at home during COVID-19
Central Coast
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Working from home doesn’t come without its challenges for those with four legs, as well as those with two.
Erina Heights Veterinary Hospital is among the veterinary services that were swamped in the initial days of the COVID-19 restrictions and have since been busily adapting as required.
In addition to people bringing their pets in for vaccinations and other appointments, there was also a cat that had a lucky escape after a potentially deadly encounter with a cleaning product and a dog who had swallowed a child’s eraser.
“The cat presented not being able to swallow properly and with mouth ulcers,” the veterinary hospital’s director and head vet Melissa Kozaruk said.
“The cat was very lucky it was caught so early. They stayed in two nights and could eat by the second day.”
Dr Kozaruk said animals, and particularly cats, were sensitive to cleaning products.
The veterinary hospital has started providing telemedicine this week and is taking expressions of interest for an online puppy preschool.
While vets have been deemed an essential service and remain open, the day-to-day operations at Erina Heights have changed. No clients enter the practice, instead handing their pet over to staff wearing personal protective equipment, after which they wait in their car until they receive a phone call from the vet during the examination.
The Australian Veterinary Association advises pet owners in quarantine or self-isolation to not break quarantine to take their pet to the vet and to instead call their vet and ask for advice. They also said there was no evidence that companion animals can spread the disease to humans or other animals.