AFP, published on Sunday March 29, 2020 at 10:38 am
The dog must go out to make his needs and spend himself: animal professionals give their advice for the well-being of the animal and the health security of his master during this period of confinement linked to Covid-19.
The Academy of Medicine on Wednesday called on owners to apply precautionary principles, such as “reinforcing usual measures” by washing their hands regularly when taking care of the animal and not “letting it lick its face “.
“This Covid-19 crisis only reminds us that when you have an animal there are basic rules of hygiene to respect. The coat of the animal like all surfaces of the house can receive droplets and be carrier virus during a reduced time “, explains Jacques Guérin, president of the Order of the veterinarians.
“When you pet your dog, you can contaminate your hands. So you have to wash your hands after you pet your dog,” he adds.
Anyone with the virus must “take precautions to protect their pet as you will protect a family member,” he said.
Several animal websites relay the recommendations of the government and veterinarians.
“They must walk your dog on a leash in a radius very close to you and respect the rule of one meter distance between you and passers-by”, in accordance with the government’s Covid-19 action plan, recalls the Wamiz website.
This site also recommends “shampooing your pet if you know he has been in contact with someone with coronavirus, to prevent him from keeping droplets from sneezing in his coat”.
According to Mr. Guérin “there is no scientific study which says that if you washed your dog, it got rid of the potential viruses he had, but it goes in the right direction”.
“The main rule is to wash your own hands and avoid kissing your dog during this time,” he says.
Sick or injured dogs or cats are looked after by veterinarians who always provide emergencies.
– “Lots of bitten dogs” –
“To fight against the spread of the virus, it is necessary to limit contacts between people. Veterinarians do acts which cannot be delegated or postponed, respecting the rules of distancing and barrier gestures”, comments Mr. Guérin.
In her office, veterinarian Christine Debove treats many dogs bitten by fellow dogs during walks.
“There is a resurgence of bites when dogs have to go out on a leash and under surveillance”, deplores the veterinarian of Essonne.
“The masters gather during the walks, drop their dogs, which causes fights, hence the bites. It does not go in the direction of protection”, she judges.
No customers in the waiting room. Christine Debove receives only the animal to be treated, “the master waits outside and keeps himself informed by telephone of the state of health of his animal”, relates the practitioner who “consults with a mask and gloves”.
But when an animal has to be euthanized, “we make an exception. We bring in the master wearing a mask and gloves so that he says goodbye”.
On March 11, the Anses health agency indicated that there was “no evidence” that pets and farm animals could transmit the new coronavirus, but Jacques Guérin “feared abandonment”.
“There is no scientific reason to abandon an animal. It is an act of rudeness and animal abuse,” he said.
For the moment, the SPA does not deplore more dropouts. “It was really our fear, it didn’t happen,” said Jacques-Charles Fombonne, its president.
The life of animal lovers has been getting complicated in Sanary-sur-Mer (Var) since Friday. The mayor has issued a new by-law preventing them from moving further than 10 m from their home.
“Jogging is not like walking your dog,” said Ferdinand Bernhard.
–
