Channel Islands Veterinary Hospital
Our top priorities are our clients, our patients and our staff. We have increased our already stringent level of disinfection to ensure everyone’s safety when they are inside our hospital. If you are in a high-risk group or ill and your pet needs to be seen, please call us to discuss various options. If necessary, we can also arrange shipping of prescriptions (when indicated) or pet food if you are unable to come in. While much is unclear about the source, transmission, behavior, and incubation times of the COVID-19 virus, ways to help protect yourself and your pets are clear. Following typical “flu-season” precautions will help reduce the risk of contracting (or spreading) the virus:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Stay at home when you are sick
Frequently and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (especially during cold and flu season)
Use hand sanitizer (containing greater than 60% alcohol) if hand washing isn’t possible
Cover your mouth/nose when you cough or sneeze
Clean frequently touched surfaces in your home and workplace
If you are under quarantine or isolation for COVID-19, there are important steps to take – and remember to treat the animals in your home as you would yourself. There have not been any reports of companion or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19 and currently there is no evidence that they play a significant epidemiological role in this human disease. However, because animals and people can sometimes share diseases (known as zoonotic diseases), it is still recommended that people who are sick with COVID-19 limit contact with companion and other animals until more information is known about this virus. If someone in your home is infected, the same quarantine that applies to people also applies to pets. It is recommended you take the following approach with regard to your pets:
Restrict contact with all animals, including pets (treat them as you would other people in your home by avoiding contact with them)
When possible, have other people in your home feed and care for your pets
Feeding raw foods to pets is not recommended, as this is a public health risk
Avoid all contact with your pet if you are sick with COVID-19 (including petting, snuggling, sharing your bed, sharing food, and being kissed/licked)
If you are caring for your pet, wear gloves and a mask, and wash your hands before and after
If you are sick with COVID-19 do not permit your pet to have contact with other people or animals
Source: LifeLearn, Inc., World Health Organization
