Foremost on the minds of Chihuahua owners and pet owners alike is how to care for their Chihuahua if they get sick with the virus. First, I want to reassure you that according to the CDC there still needs to be more research to know if our Chihuahuas — or any companion animals — can become sick from COVID-19, or whether they can pass it to humans. Although until we know more caution should be taken.
If you become sick and are asked to quarantine at home it is always best to keep your dog(s) quarantined also. That means having someone else in the home care for them in a part of the house where they will not come in contact with you.
If that is not possible, always wear a mask when with them. No kissing on them or letting them kiss you — I know how hard that will be!…. just remember that it will be temporary. Always wash your hands thoroughly both before and after you handle them or any of their food bowls, toys, bedding, etc. Do not let your dog(s) around other pets or people while you have the virus.
What If You Are Hospitalized?
If you should be hospitalized, ideally you should have your Chihuahua(s) stay with a trusted friend or family member while you are hospitalized. Trusted is the keyword. You want to concentrate on getting well, not worrying about your Chihuahua while you are in the hospital. But what if you have no one else to care for your Chihuahua(s)?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA), for people who do not have family or friends who can care for their companion animals during their hospitalization, “animal service agencies are collaborating with public health departments to support the companion animals (animals that include working animals and pets) of people who require hospitalization.”
In other words, “animal service agencies are working to support (or help with) keeping companion animals in their homes or co-housing them in temporary emergency housing when people face challenges in providing care. Shelters receiving household animals from a home with a person known or suspected to have a COVID-19 virus should ensure they review and adhere to their established biosafety and biosecurity practices for infectious diseases.”
How Chihuahuas Help Those That Are Sick
If you are sick at home, it is beneficial to keep them home (following the above recommendations) with you for two reasons.
- Our Chihuahuas are more than “companion animals”, they are family members. Isolation and quarantine can be extremely stressful situations. Isolation causes much anxiety, fear of the unknown, or even anger. This stress is greatly reduced by keeping families together. That includes our Chihuahuas. Maintaining your health and your Chi’s health during this public health emergency is so very important.
- Previous disasters have proven that people will take great risks to their own safety rather than be separated from their pets. For this reason, some may not disclose all their symptoms, for fear that their pets will be taken away from them, therefore they may expose themselves or others.
- Animal shelters may become overwhelmed with pets being relinquished or abandoned. That would stretch their capacity and resources to the point where they no longer can care adequately for all the animals at the shelter. Therefore, they would no longer be able to take in and care for the pets of infected persons.
Recommendations For Shelters
Animals that have been in contact with a person or persons should be separated from all other animals in the shelter during their stay. The risks are unknown with this continually evolving virus. Until we know more, it is advisable to keep them separate to protect both human and animal health. If at all possible there should be staff dedicated to the care of the group of animals that have been exposed. All precautions for staff should be taken as is recommended to all health care workers.
Every effort should be made to promptly reunite the sheltered pets with their owners. Animals that need to be adopted or sent to a foster home should be held for 14 days out of an abundance of caution.
If a pet while at the shelter should develop an unexplained illness during their stay, the shelter’s staff should contact and work with the appropriate public health or animal health authorities to determine whether testing for COVID-19 is warranted.
