The coronavirus pandemic has changed our daily lives in ways we couldn’t have even imagined a few months back. Not only has it turned our world upside down, but it’s affected our dachshunds’ lives too. So what do you need to think about to care for your dachshund during the coronavirus outbreak?
Table of Contents
For the latest updates and information on coronavirus (COVID-19), follow the official advice from the World Health Organisation and your Government.
This is what you need to know:
Dog Food
Think about buying a little extra dog food for your Dachshund. This doesn’t mean panic buying and emptying the shelves so no one else has any. Just make sure you have a bit more stock in the cupboard than normal, as dog food may be harder to access over the coming months. It may also be harder for you to get out to the shops so put some sensible plans in place.
Vets
Contact your local vet to find out how they’re going to operate during the coronavirus outbreak. Check if you’ll still be able to access emergency care. If you can, get a supply of any medication needed to get you through the next few months. Ask about flea and worming treatments and how you should go about accessing these while on lockdown. Make sure you follow your Government’s advice on whether you’re able to collect medications, or not.
Jabs
If you have a new puppy that’s due their jabs during the lockdown, you need to speak to your vet. Give them a call to discuss your options. They may suggest starting the jabs again in a few months time after the virus has (hopefully) stabilised. If this is the case, be very careful about where your puppy goes. Get specific advice from your vet on what you can and cannot do.
Treatment
If your dachshund is undergoing veterinary treatment speak to your vet to understand how this’ll continue during lockdown. These are unprecedented and challenging times and everyone is having to adapt. As much as vets will do their best to help you and your dachshund, treatment regimes may be disrupted. Try to be understanding and work with your vet to get through this difficult time as best you can.
Operations
If you have a neutering operation booked in the next few months, speak to your vet about rescheduling. Unless urgent, it may be advisable to wait a few months before undergoing any operation. Secondary infections are rare but can happen, and you might not have the same access to emergency veterinary care as you did before. Speak to your vet and take their advice.
Insurance
Give your pet insurance company a call to find out what services they’re putting in place during lockdown. You need to know what the current procedures are should you need to make a claim.
Exercise
Being cooped up in isolation is challenging for you and your dachshund. If you have a garden, throw a ball around outside to give him some exercise. If you don’t have a garden, throw a soft toy or ball around inside (if you’re able to do that of course). Whatever situation you’re in, try to get your dachshund moving around every day. Get down on his level, play games and have fun. Once he’s burned off his excess energy, he should just settle down and sleep. Each country has different rules on what you can and cannot do during lockdown, and you MUST follow that advice. If you’re allowed to walk your dachshund in a park, make sure you practice social distancing by keeping at least 2 metres away from others. Be responsible and stay safe!
Mental stimulation
Dachshunds are smart and need mental stimulation. Try to do things that appeal to their natural hunting instincts. Improvise with what you have in the kitchen cupboard and hide treats under egg cups so he can sniff them out. These types of games challenge your dachshund to learn and grow. Teaching tricks is another great way to help him burn mental energy and stop him getting frustrated or bored at home. YouTube is a great, free resource to learn how to teach new tricks!
Emergency
We all hope and pray that no one gets coronavirus. But it’s a good idea to put plans in place for your dachshund should you become unwell. If you live with family, this shouldn’t be an issue as they can take over the care. But, if you’re on your own, organise for someone to be your emergency contact. If you become unwell or have to spend any time in hospital, you need to be sure your dachshund is being well looked after. Write down his daily schedule and make a list of what meals he has and when. Being prepared should also take some of the worry and stress away from you should anything happen.
Contact
Don’t let anyone outside of your home touch, stroke or cuddle your dachshund during the coronavirus outbreak. This virus is new and no one knows exactly how long it can survive on surfaces. Your dachshund’s coat is still a surface, and you want to keep your family safe. Also, if you become unwell, it would be best not to touch your dachshund while in isolation. You may want to consider isolating your dachshund too, just to be on the safe side. Follow the World Health Organisation for the latest information and advice regarding dogs and the coronavirus.
Routine
During lockdown, try to keep your dachshund in his normal routine as much as possible. If everything changes overnight, he’ll adjust to those new ways of doing things, but may find it difficult when you go back to work. It’s obviously a great opportunity to spend time with your dachshund. Just be mindful not to mollycoddle him too much, or he may end up with separation anxiety when normal life resumes. Try to find the right balance!
Hygiene
We’ve all seen the advice about washing hands regularly to keep the coronavirus at bay. Make sure you do this before and after touching your dachshund too. There’s no current evidence to suggest the virus can pass between humans and animals, but it’s better to be cautious and practice good hygiene. If using hand sanitiser, it’s best not to allow your dachshund to lick this off your hands.
What do I do next?
If you remove the ‘I‘ from ILLNESS and replace with ‘WE‘ you get WELLNESS. We can only beat this if we ALL work together. Stay home. Stay safe and take care of yourself and your dachshunds. For the latest updates and information on coronavirus (COVID-19), follow the official advice from the World Health Organisation and your Government.
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