Providing comfort through hugs and snuggles, making us laugh, telling us it's time to get outside, "helping" with homeschooling and other tasks -- these are just a few of the ways pets show they care, particularly in these stressful times, according to submissions to our Pets Just Know photo gallery in honor of National Pet Week, May 3-9. How does your pet show you they care? Share your moments of companionship in our online photo gallery.
On April 22, the CDC announced the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in two pet cats. Later that month, a pet dog tested positive. These are the first pets in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Currently, no information suggests that pets might be a source of infection for people. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers online resources to learn more about how the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 affects animals, and how to keep pets safe during the pandemic.
Did you know that May is national Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and that you have the opportunity to participate in an online study about ticks for dog and cat owners? This study will help School of Veterinary Medicine and other UW-Madison researchers better understand how having a dog or cat might change your use of tick prevention methods, your exposure to ticks, and how you think about these topics. Participation may also help researchers learn about the role of pets in preventing tick bites and diseases transmitted by ticks.
UW Veterinary Care is currently open to life-threatening emergencies in both the small animal and large animal hospitals. We are gradually increasing appointments in our specialty services, working according to the state of Wisconsin Safer at Home guidelines and American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines, and are only seeing patients with urgent and progressive medical conditions.
Our veterinarians remain available to consult with other veterinary medical practitioners on emergent cases and urgent questions. And our pharmacy will continue to send out urgent refill medications as needed. Please submit requests using our online refill portal.
With so many of our patients and their families sheltering at home, we are working to develop new services to help us reach pets and people despite social distancing. For our Primary Care team, specifically, upcoming changes include the introduction of a Primary Care Telemedicine Service. More information will be shared by email soon with current Primary Care clients and is also available online.
