Coronavirus COVID-19 and Pets News Update

Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Information from Ramsey Animal Clinic

As an essential business, Ramsey Animal Clinic remains open and we are committed to providing the same veterinary care. We are taking all the necessary precautions to maintain the health and safety of our dedicated team, patients and the community – and with that comes some significant changes to our normal routine. At this time only staff members are permitted to enter the veterinary clinic. Emergencies, drop offs, scheduled appointments, discharges and Rx pick-ups must be coordinated by phone from our parking lot. Additionally, we are asking you, our clients, for your own safety and the safety of our staff, to please wear a face covering whenever you are interacting with a member of our team. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We appreciate your patience and support as we navigate this outbreak.

Can I get Coronavirus COVID-19 from my pets or other animals?

There is no reason at this time to think that any animals, including pets, in the United States might be a source of infection with this new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. To date, CDC has not received any reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with Coronavirus COVID-19 in the United States.

Pets have other types of coronaviruses that can make them sick, like canine and feline coronaviruses. These other coronaviruses cannot infect people and are not related to the current Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

However, since animals can spread other diseases to people, it’s always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals, such as washing your hands and maintaining good hygiene. For more information on the many benefits of pet ownership, as well as staying safe and healthy around animals including pets, livestock, and wildlife, visit CDC’s Healthy Pets, Healthy People website.

Should I avoid contact with pets or other animals if I am sick with Coronavirus COVID-19?

You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with Coronavirus COVID-19, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with Coronavirus COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with Coronavirus COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the new coronavirus COVID-19. When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with Coronavirus COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets.

Can I travel to the US with dogs or import dogs into the US during the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak

Please refer to CDC’s requirements for bringing a dog to the United States. The current requirements for rabies vaccination apply to dogs imported from China, a high-risk country for rabies.

What about imported animals or animal products?

CDC does not have any evidence to suggest that imported animals or animal products pose a risk for spreading Coronavirus COVID-19 in the United States. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) play distinct but complementary roles in regulating the importation of live animals and animal products into the United States. CDC regulates animals and animal products that pose a threat to human health, USDA regulates animals and animal products that pose a threat to agriculture; and FWS regulates importation of endangered species and wildlife that can harm the health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture, or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources.

What precautions should be taken for animals that have recently been imported from outside the US?

Imported animals will need to meet CDC and USDA requirements for entering the United States. At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets and service animals, can spread Coronavirus COVID-19. As with any animal introduced to a new environment, animals recently imported should be observed daily for signs of illness. If an animal becomes ill, the animal should be examined by a veterinarian. Call your local veterinary clinic before bringing the animal into the clinic and let them know that the animal was recently imported from another country.

This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

In the United States, there is no evidence to suggest that any animals, including pets, livestock, or wildlife, might be a source of Coronavirus COVID-19 infection at this time. However, because all animals can carry germs that can make people sick, it’s always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals.

Wash your hands after handling animals, their food, waste, or supplies.
Practice good pet hygiene and clean up after pets properly.
Take pets to the veterinarian regularly and talk to your veterinarian if you have questions about your pet’s health.

For more information, visit CDC’s Healthy Pets, Healthy People website.

Heartworm Awareness Month

April is National Heartworm Awareness month, but not every dog owner is well versed in the potentially deadly parasite. It’s only transmitted by mosquitos, which pick up larval heartworms — called microfilaria — circulating in the bloodstream of an infected animal. Dogs with heartworm can be treated, but the best approach to the parasite is prevention.

Here at Ramsey Animal Clinic, the health and wellness of dogs is engrained in our mission. To help pet parents protect their pups, we remind these five things to remember:

1. The American Heartworm Society and many veterinarians recommend year-round preventative medication due to it being found in all 50 states.

While the prevalence of heartworm historically has been high in the South, the American Heartworm Society reports that it’s on the rise throughout the U.S. This increase includes regions that were once considered “non-endemic.” Even if you don’t live in an area where heartworm is prominent, we still recommend you to talk to your veterinarian about preventative medication for your dog.

2. Heartworm disease can cause lasting damage to the heart, which can affect a dog’s health and quality of life — just one of many reasons to have your dog on preventative medication.

Heartworms mature after six months and can live in your dog’s body for seven years, constantly producing offspring. After about a year, a dog may harbor hundreds of these worms, although the average is 15. The worms cause inflammation and damage to the heart, arteries, and lungs.

3. Heartworm preventative medication can only be obtained from a veterinarian or with a veterinarian’s prescription through a pet pharmacy, so start the conversation early.

There are many different preventatives available, some that are chewable, some that are topical, and some that also prevent other parasites. Ramsey Animal Clinic can offer you the preventative that is right for you and your dog.

4. Certain heartworm preventative medications can protect against many intestinal parasites.

Again, certain preventatives can protect against other parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, fleas, and tapeworms. Please visit us at Ramsey Animal Clinic to discuss in details about the differences between the types of preventatives and we can help you choose the right one.

5. The recommendation from the American Heartworm Society is to have all dogs tested for heartworm every 12 months, even those already on heartworm preventative medication.

The Veterinarian at Ramsey Animal Clinic can test your dog for heartworm during your annual visit.

parasite, mange -mangeue, Coccidia, Giardia, Spirochetes, heartworm, ear_mite, worm -bookworm, flee_and_tick, flee_&_tick, Lyme Disease

Preventing Lyme disease and Ticks on your Pets

Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tickborne diseases. Vaccines are not available for most of the tickborne diseases that dogs can get, and they don’t keep the dogs from bringing ticks into your home. For these reasons, it’s important to use a tick preventive product on your dog.

Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect. Signs of tickborne disease may not appear for 7-21 days or longer after a tick bite, so watch your dog closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a tick.

Talk to your veterinarian about:

The best tick prevention products for your dog
Tickborne diseases in your area

To further reduce the chances that a tick bite will make your dog sick:

Check your pets for ticks daily, especially after they spend time outdoors.
If you find a tick on your pet, remove it right away.
Reduce tick habitat in your yard.

Note: Cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals. Do not apply any tick prevention products to your cats without first asking your veterinarian!

Note–September 21, 2018: FDA Fact Sheet for Pet Owners and Veterinarians about Potential Adverse Events Associated with Isoxazoline Flea and Tick Products. For additional information, please talk to your veterinarian.

Ramsey Animal Clinic

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