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Psychotherapy

Have you tried psychotherapy? Psychotherapy or talk therapy is a commonly used therapy to address and hear out inner thoughts and emotions. Let’s find out more as we go through this article.

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Counseling and psychotherapy experts are experienced at hearing people out and providing them significant help in dealing with trauma and how it has affected the lives of those who have gone through it. Among the most relevant areas of trauma is acknowledging that life for these trauma victims has changed, and their previous ways of viewing the world often do not seem to be as meaningful anymore. Psychotherapy is an effective way of trying to bring back meaning to their lives. Through psychotherapy, these victims will have a better mindset and outlook for their futures.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

The emphasis of CBT which is a type of psychotherapy is on recognizing the damaging beliefs and expectations and repairing them through restructuring, meaning that striving to aid people can think differently and learn new and positive meanings. CBT that is focused on trauma attempts to modify difficult meanings of the sad experiences, like, “What happened to me proved that I am useless, insecure, and corrupt. There’s no one I can trust,” and modifying challenging coping mechanisms, like ruminating on unpleasant outcomes, entertaining threats, and thought suppression.

Source: harbolmentalhealth.com

CBT is performed over a brief time, typically between 8 and 12 sessions for a span of months. It is a dynamic type of psychotherapy targeted at helping people learn ways to face and gradually get over their anxiety, fear, and depression.

Medication – Psychotherapy

People who have anxiety, mood changes, or panic episodes are commonly prescribed medications in conjunction with talk therapy or psychotherapy. In these circumstances, the psychotherapist or counselor could suggest that trauma victims talk with their primary care physician about the possibility of taking antidepressants or other forms of medication. Some individuals find relief in taking them, but not everyone, though. They must talk with their counselor or physician.

In many cases, psychotherapy help is necessary for these victims to recover from the devastating experiences. Medication is always considered at some point in the counseling, particularly if additional help is needed.

Trauma In Children

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Kids, adolescents, and teens may also go through trauma and developmental health conditions. They could present with the same reactions as adults, but there are distinctions. For younger kids, repetitive play can be done where themes associated with the event are acted out. There could be a relapse of behaviors that are common when the victim was younger. Adults need to be careful to listen to their kids and monitor what they do because they might not be capable of verbally expressing their emotions and the challenges that they are experiencing. Other means that trauma is presented in younger kids is by:

• Temper or aggression problems at preschool
• Fear of loneliness, of the dark, and monsters become worse
• Hyperactivity or being extremely energetic
• Somatization (complaining of headaches or stomach problems)
• A combination of all symptoms mentioned above

Below are strategies psychotherapists say might help alleviate the psychological anxiety, stress, and sadness following a traumatic experience.

• Take time for yourself so that you can deal with your emotions or thoughts. Sometimes, though, you may need to reach out to your family or close friends to feel less lonely.
• Stay active. Exercise is vital for your mind and body, as these two are intimately connected. However, it is unhealthy to be obsessed with exercise and overdo it, as often exercise masks coping challenges.
• Facing the aftermath of the trauma. Confronting the pain and misery of what happened could help you accept and come to terms with the traumatic experience.
• Receiving help and support from others. Getting help from other people is very beneficial. You may try to be strong, but sometimes it helps if someone provides you with the support and encouragement you need. Talking to family, friends, and significant others and being with them takes a major load off of your shoulders – and your mind.
• Find ways to deal with your emotions. Learn relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga to help you calm down when you have bouts of anxiety or panic attacks.
• Express how you feel. Find time to recall the experience by yourself and then with others. Lean on your family and significant others and share your sadness with them. People of all ages require opportunities to let go of their feelings through storytelling and role-playing, among others.

Source:childandfamilymentalhealth.com

Final Thoughts: Psychotherapy and Psychotherapists

In the aftermath of a devastating event, it is typical for people to be depressed and bothered by recollections of what occurred and to feel awkward and guarded. Some people’s miseries progress for months, leading them or their families to seek help from a therapist or counselor. These professionals utilize a range of methods that may or may not be done uniformly. Nevertheless, they have the same goals: to help these troubled souls regain their self-worth, self-esteem, and self-respect to continue living life with hope and positivity.

 

 

Animal Assisted Therapy Helps

The connection between animals and people is formidable, and the constructive link between mental health and pets is undisputable. Adults, adolescents, children, and the elderly all find happiness in their animal pets. Thus, mental health and pets go together. Additionally, research has proven the benefits of animal-assisted therapy for improving one’s mental health. Numerous scientific researches have recognized the benefits of having a dog, cat, or even a hamster.

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The Best Things That Everyone Loved About It

Animals indeed help with anxiety, stress, and depression. Furthermore, they offer company and alleviate loneliness. Finally, pets add delight and absolute love.

Experts have learned a lot more regarding the link between mental health and pets for the past years. Because of this, animal-assisted therapy plans have become a significant aspect of mental health management. Also, people benefit from having mental health pets, like an emotional support dog.

During the 90s, mental health programs for teenagers have integrated equine therapy. This type of therapy dynamically utilizes horses in their treatments. The horse-human bond permits teenagers to express their issues and emotions. They do this by using an effective and personal knowledge of nonverbal communication.   But we can take advantage of animal-assisted therapy daily in the comfort of our own homes.

Below are some counselor-approved ways that our pets can support mental health.

Animal Assisted Therapy Benefits

Mental Health And Pets: Alleviating Stress

Animal-assisted therapy focuses on the interaction with a kind and loving dog that decreases one’s cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. Having a pet also causes a surge of oxytocin, which is another chemical that decreases stress. This is why animal-assisted therapy is so effective. Moreover, the act of touching a pet decreases blood pressure. Hence, it lowers stress. Subsequently, studies have revealed that dogs can tremendously assist in pacifying aggressive and hyperactive kids.

Animals Make Us Feel Important And Loved

Animal-assisted therapy makes us feel more important and wanted. The simple act of taking care of a pet has great mental health benefits. Taking care of another living being provides us with a sense of meaning and commitment.

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Additionally, even if your pets do not mingle so much with their owners, this is a fact. In a previous study on mental health and animals, seniors were given hamsters to care for. Researchers kept track of their moods for more than two months. Also, they compared the participants of the study and a group who did not care for pets. Consequently, the participants assigned to care for the hamsters were less anxious and depressed after two weeks than those outside of the control group. Thus, researchers validated that animal-assisted therapy yielded mental health benefits.

Pet Counseling Reduces Stress

Research around mental health and pets revealed that playing and interacting with animals significantly lowers stress hormones. This animal-assisted therapy can happen just after a few minutes of mingling with a pet. So pets are indeed very beneficial for depression sufferers.

Animal-assisted therapy increases one’s dopamine and serotonin levels. These two hormones pacify and calm the nervous system. When you laugh or smile at your pet’s loving gestures, you are already activating your happy hormones.

It Prevents Anxiety

Animal-assisted therapy can protect kids from anxiety, states a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A study was performed on 640 kids, half of which took care of pets at home. The researchers gauged their physical activity, anxiety levels, screen time, BMI, or body mass index. At the end of the study, it was found that all the kids had the same BMIs, physical activity, and screen time, regardless if they had pets or not. However, they had differing anxiety levels. More than 20% of the kids who had no pet dogs were positive for anxiety in their screening tests, and only 12% of those who had pets experienced anxiety.

Thus, animal-assisted therapy obviously produces a positive impact on childhood anxiety and stress. Consequently, kids who grow up with pet dogs or cats have a higher likelihood of becoming healthy and joyful teenagers.

Animal Assisted Therapy Improve One’s Overall Well-Being

At present, Miami and Saint Louis University psychologists performed several experiments around the advantages of animal-assisted therapy. Subsequently, the results revealed that owners of pets had alleviated their well-being in various aspects, including improved physical fitness, decreased loneliness and misery, increased self-confidence, improved social skills, and less fear and anxiety.

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Animals Are Good Models Of Being In The Present

Animals thrive at the moment. This means that they do not stress over what occurred yesterday. Also, they are not scared about what could happen in the future.

Conclusion

As a consequence, pets can aid individuals in becoming more attentive. Mindfulness is the mental process of focusing on the present. Thus, they significantly help adolescents and teenagers appreciate and seize the present moments. Additionally, pets are a great distraction for teens from the things that bother them. Finally, spending time with pets helps kids of all ages to be more lighthearted and playful.

 

 

 

Who says your furry friend can’t be your therapist too? Dogs are man’s best friend, but they can serve as therapy dogs also!

Dogs have shown to have positive effects on owners, no matter their age. In fact, many dog owners see their dogs as important family members. What makes dogs particularly good for therapy is how they can seemingly pick up their owners’ emotional state and easily read body language. 

Therapy dogs are pets who can give emotional support. They typically live with people. In some instances, they work at hospitals, nursing or retirement homes, and schools. There is a wide range of conditions that a therapy dog can help and these are: 

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
• Children with autism 
• Heart patients 
• Alzheimer patients 
• Depression 
• And more! 

In addition to supporting people with mental health challenges and disorders, therapy dogs are also known to help support emotional well-being. They can provide help through: 

• Teaching us mindfulness and how to pay attention; 
• Relieving stress and increase happiness; 
• Leading us to nature; 
• Offering empathy and providing emotional support; 
• Providing comfort; 
• Providing a sense of purpose; 
• Promoting socialization; 
• And decrease loneliness and depression.

Dogs typically go through proper training as they need certification to become therapy dogs. The preparation for these therapy dogs teaches them to be gentle and accept strangers touching them. Any friendly breed of dog can work as a therapy dog as long as they have the right qualities. Some of the most important factors include mannerisms, temperament, and response to sudden stimuli. 

Do note, however, that therapy dogs are different from service dogs. Service dogs are for particular tasks that their owners are incapable of. On the other hand, therapy dogs provide comfort and attention to help a person’s mental health. Anyone can benefit from a therapy dog, whereas service dogs help specific people.

If you’re looking to train or adopt a therapy dog, the following section contains commonly asked questions about training, qualities, and clarifications on this therapy.  

What does a therapy dog do?

Therapy dogs are trained and licensed to serve as healing companions for people with health conditions like PTSD or cancer. Together with their handlers, these therapy dogs go into medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and psychiatric institutions. Their primary purpose is to provide support and comfort to struggling patients.

Do Therapy dogs have the same rights as service dogs?

While therapy dogs and service dogs go through similar training and process, therapy dogs are not given the same rights as service dogs. Federal law states that therapy dogs may only be granted access to several permitted institutions. Whereas service dog owners, who are persons with disabilities, are given legal access to any place along with their service dogs.

How do I know if my dog can be a therapy dog?

First of all, you must have an adult dog, as puppies are usually not permitted by organizations. A well-mannered dog is one of the first telltale signs you know your dog can become a therapy dog. He/she should be able to mingle and make contact with people without any problem. It is the dog equivalent of being a people-person.

Other good signs include your dog ignoring other dogs and handling stressful environments such as a busy hospital setting and affectionate, especially children.

Can my therapist make my dog a service dog?

A diagnosis made by a certified mental health practitioner, such as a psychologist or therapist, is vital if an individual wants to have a service dog. Your therapist writes an ESA letter to help you apply and qualify for animal assistance. However, your dog can only be a service dog if he/she has undergone training, which can take years. If not, you may have to get a trained service dog from someone else.

How can I certify my dog as a therapy dog online?

According to medical professionals, there is no certification for therapy dogs online. The only qualification needed for your dog to be a therapy dog is to have an ESA letter from a certified health practitioner. The ESA letter should contain your full name, medical condition, and how it prevents you from performing your daily activities.

How do I train my dog to be a therapy dog?

Preparing a dog to become a therapy is a lengthy but worthwhile process. It is best to start as early as when your dog is a puppy. This allows your dog to have ample time to adjust, adapt, and gain necessary skills. Building trust with your dog is usually the first step taken, then obedience training follows. You can also enroll the dog in an organization that trains therapy dogs.

Can you deny a therapy dog?

As therapy dogs do not hold the same rights as service animals, some places may deny entry or access to a therapy dog. This is stated under federal law that therapy dogs should be treated like regular pets. It is best to ask permission from a place first before bringing in a therapy dog.

Do emotional support dogs count as service dogs?

Under the ADA, emotional supports do not qualify as service dogs, so the two are not granted the same rights. According to the laws, service dogs are classified as working animals. They can perform tasks for people with disabilities, whether physical or mental. On the other hand, support or therapy dogs are trained pets to provide emotional support. The distinction between the two is clear.

What’s the difference between a service dog and a companion dog?

As previously mentioned, service dogs are trained to perform tasks for their owners. For example, they can remind an individual when it is time to take their medicine or call other people’s attention if their owners get into an accident. Companion dogs are only trained, from their name itself, to provide companionship.

What qualities make a good therapy dog?

Intelligence is one of the top characteristics a dog should possess to make him/her a good therapy dog. With intelligence comes other valuable skills such as not getting sidetracked by non-essential things and adapting. They should also be patient, calm, and friendly with people.

How do I make my dog a therapy pet?

Passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test is the first step in making a dog a therapy pet. This is an assessment of a dog’s basic training and skills, including having good manners and communicating well with people and other dogs.

What is the therapy dog test?

The therapy dog test is the Canine Good Citizen Test previously mentioned. This is provided by the American Kennel Club and is made available through various therapy organizations.

Can I take my emotional support dog to stores?

The American Disabilities Act does not classify emotional support dogs as service animals. Hence, they are not allowed in public places such as stores, hotels, and restaurants unless granted permission or access by authorities.

What breeds make good emotional support dogs?

The most popular breed of emotional support dogs is Labrador retrievers. Other dogs such as poodles, saint bernards, and german shepherds also good choices. These dogs are known to be intelligent and caring breeds.

Do service dogs have to go everywhere with you?

The simple answer is yes. Service dogs allow a person with disabilities to function generally in the streets. It is best to have them accompany you at all times, in cases of emergency or not.

Conclusion

The companionship of a dog is irreplaceable. It’s less complicated and more stable than human companionship, and they can be there for you 24/7. A dog’s presence can help us recover from emotionally taxing situations and life stresses. In some cases, therapy dogs can succeed where medical treatments can’t.

Now that you know the key differences between therapy and service dogs, as well as other information, here are your next steps in getting a therapy dog: 

Look at your specific needs and what you hope to achieve. It is important to determine whether you need your dog to do particular tasks or merely provide support and companionship. 

If you plan to adopt a dog, make sure you do the research. Certain breeds are a better fit for this job. But, what’s more, important is their personality, behavior, and temperament. 

While dogs can become therapy animals at any age, puppies are easier to train. Meanwhile, older dogs can be just as loving and sweet as the younger ones. 

Once you have a dog, you can start the training immediately. We recommend finding a professional dog trainer for this to help you save time. In general, your therapy dog needs to exhibit certain qualities and behaviors. They should not be easily excitable nor too shy. Important traits include obedience, unaggressive, gentle, relaxed, and not easily startled. 

Once your dog is ready, it must be registered by a certified organization and pass a test. The American Kennel Club (AKC) also recommends that dogs pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test before the therapy dog registration. 

You will also need a mental health practitioner certification for everyday situations like travel and official business. 

You’re all set! Congratulations on taking this action step towards better mental health and well-being. 

Among the 7.8 billion humans living on the planet, 57% are pet owners and caretakers. Out of this number, 33% own dogs, 23% hold cats, 12% have fish, and 6% keep birds. Rodents, reptiles, and other pets compose the remaining 6% of such population.

If you already have a pet, then you know why people love nurturing domesticated animals. And if you haven’t, then maybe you still don’t know enough about the benefits of having a pet.

Pets are known to decrease blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. Aside from these physical effects, taking care of pets also improves your overall well-being, especially your mental health. But how can your pet positively affect your mental health?

Building Healthy Habits

Taking care of pets is just like nurturing your children. But unlike children, they’re of lower maintenance. Your pets only need a cozy home, proper nutrition, regular check-ups with a vet, and exercise. You don’t even have to enroll them and spend money on education! All you need to do to improve your pet’s knowledge is by training them.

But even if they are low maintenance, you still have to keep track of their well-being. You have to feed them properly, accompany them for vet visits, and encourage them to be active. These chores require some organizational skills and patience, so you have to put in an effort.

And since pets don’t usually cry like babies when they need something, you may not know what they need. To solve this, some pet owners schedule these simple pet tasks. This easy activity can help people with mental disorders, especially kids with ADHD. Once you get used to these scheduled tasks, you can apply your organizational skills to improve your self-care habits.

Securing A Lifelong Friend

Besides helping kids with ADHD, pets also help elderly owners with their Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown how pets, especially dogs, can enhance self-esteem and confidence in dementia patients.

But pets aren’t just lifelong friends because of their role in elderly care. Pets are always with you in everything you do. They can accompany you even in your most significant life changes. With their constant presence, they can help keep you grounded on your priorities.

Meeting A Trusted Companion

You can do almost anything with your pets. You can travel and try new hobbies with your pets. And with your pet’s excitement and nuanced view of the world, you can enjoy activities in new and fun ways.

If you’re a dog owner, you’ll know they can be hyper sometimes. Utilize their wild bursts of energy by taking them out for walks in the park. Or if you’re leaning into a more athletic track, you can take them out for running or jogging routines. You can also bring them to your hikes to help them run in the wild.

But if your pet is more on domestic activities, you can try knitting, photography, and even cloud or bird watching. These activities can be hobbies you can enjoy with a cat or a hamster. All these activities can benefit your mental health by giving you an enjoyable time while taking a hiatus from stress and anxiety.

Gaining A Confidante

Aside from hobbies, pets are also easy to confide in with your thoughts and feelings. When you’re feeling tired or stressed after a long day at work, you may not be in the mood for socialization. But feelings of tiredness can degrade your mental health if not remedied with the warmth of another being. If you’re feeling lonely and isolated, your pet can give you this kind of love.

You can vent out to them about your activities, and they will listen to you. Since they can’t talk back, you can share your story without judgment and interruptions. But even if they can’t provide you with kind words, they can still improve your mood with their light touches. Cats will curl up in your lap, and dogs will swipe their tongue. These simple gestures are just some of your pet’s love languages.

Participating In Pet Communities

Having a pet may lead you to join groups or associations for pets. These communities often have steps and tips on how to improve your pet’s lives. Once you immerse into these pet communities, you’ll be able to build new and meaningful friendships beneficial to your mental health.

You’ll be able to bond with your community through scheduled park walking and playdates. But these new friendships can also go beyond the simple meet and greets. You can also find common hobbies you have with other members of your pet community. You’ll be bonding more than ever, and the next thing you know, you’ve found another lifelong friend.

Indeed, taking care of a pet and seeing them as your own family can help in different ways. Some people have secured a lifelong friend, gained a companion and confidante, and enjoyed having communities.

If you want these benefits for yourself, you can start by improving your pet care or getting your first pet. You can choose a dog, a cat, or even domestic snakes. Whatever kind of pet you want to get, you can still gain these life-changing mental health benefits.

 

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One of the most affected businesses in the world is the wedding industry. Travel bans, shelter-in-place orders, and social distancing measures have pushed many partners to downscale or cancel their weddings. It’s not certain when the virus will subside and finally become history for us, but of course, couples do still want to get married, despite how different the events industry is now and in the future.

We spoke with several events and wedding organizers, along with a medical specialist, about what changes will be seen and what may never be seen in weddings post-pandemic.

Big weddings with hundreds of guests will most probably be very rare, if not impossible.

Grand weddings won’t be as common after this global crisis. Wedding and event planners have already noticed a progressive trend of more intimate wedding receptions even before the pandemic. With COVID-19, it will most likely be going to become a larger drift, to have a wedding that’s smaller and more focused on the newlyweds and their families and making the celebration more about them rather than the previous events that have made weddings less meaningful. A known infectious disease expert also believes that stopping the trend of big weddings is surely for the best from a personal and public health perspective.

You will scarcely see men and women dancing all together on the dance floor.

You can show your moves as much as you can, as crowds in dance floors won’t be as packed as before. Perhaps some people might have the guts to dance with strangers still after the pandemic, but it surely won’t be as cheery and relaxed. It might not be strictly recommended, but limitations should be set. People must know that dancing with someone you know is one thing, but when you dance wildly and without preservation while drinking some spirits, your risk of getting infected with the virus increases significantly.

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Wedding bars will have a new face.

One thing you might notice first is the bar without the tender. Drinks in wedding receptions may change direction from bartenders mixing drinks for the guests to individual drinks prepared for them to take. An owner of a popular events planning company was quoted saying that the look of wedding bars will change. “In big hotels,” she said, they typically open a bottle of soft drinks. Perhaps we will be seeing more of these individual bottles.”

The buffet-style will probably become outdated.

It’s time to bid farewell to buffets. There has been no proof confirming that the virus is transmitted through food, but buffet-style meals will not make social distancing easy. Yes, one cannot ingest the coronavirus, but when there are several people sharing food in one table, whether it’s buffet-style of whatever style it may be, there is sharing of food, glasses, and utensils. The opportunity for transmission is there; hence, the risk is high.

Large grazing tables and family meals may be substituted with more sanitized choices.

Grazing tables and family meals have become a budding trend in the wedding and events industry previous to these dark times. Still, experts say that they might not be able to regain popularity post-pandemic. These would most likely go away for some time, even when the pandemic will subside and end. People are more conscious about getting infected with almost anything, so there won’t be much interest in a grazing table.

Source: ranatenthouse.com

Nuptials won’t be booking for only one wedding date.

Yes, because it will hurt to cancel an already planned grand event because a pandemic hit the world. This happened to Princess Beatrice, who couldn’t push through with her wedding because of the COVID-19. Future clients will be smarter and more prepared and will likely integrate a plan B, or the probability of rescheduling their wedding date.

Post-coronavirus, new contracts will be made, and fresh styles in wedding decoration and planning will be created. Clients will haggle for a chance at having a second date, and organizers will be obliged to be more understanding of their pleas. The pandemic has changed a lot in the wedding industry – and each one of us.

 

 

 

The 2019 birds event presents the best experience of the bird-watching venture. Sure, many types of birds have incredible features like dexterity and speed. However, we have the list of fairest birds based on the creatures’ colors, contrast, and display of their beautiful plumage.

Blue Jay – These birds are very recognizable because the male and female species share the same color patterns. They have a distinct crest on the head with cobalt tipped and lavender blue feathers and an exquisite black collar.

Macaw – Aside from being the people’s favorite due to their ability to imitate human speech, these grand parrots of the tropics comes in a wide variety of colors. They are distinguishable due to their vibrant presence. There’s scarlet red, blue, and gold.

Source: pexels.com

 

Snowy Owl – These grand birds of prey has become movie favorites because of their unforgettable look. These birds have a silky plumage that is white as snow. The males are almost entirely black. The females, on the other hand, have black feathers on their backs and wings.

Keel-Billed Toucan – The birds’ plumage is predominantly black with matching yellow bib. However, these birds’ most distinguishing feature is their beaks. The color is bright lime that edged with blue and orange tone and tipped in cherry red.

Painted Bunting – These birds are considered the most beautiful songbirds in North America. They have a striking sapphire head and ruby breast. The combination of colors truly makes it stand out from other tropical birds.

Source: pexels.com

Flamingo – Of course, these birds are one of fairest among other birds. Not only are they unforgettably pink in color, but they are also very unique. Not all that, these birds entirely dance with their long slender legs, graceful necks, and rosy complexions. These birds represent elegance.

Peacock – These birds top the list due to their magnificent spectacles. These peafowl best serve the definition of extravagance. That is due to the male peacocks’ long neck, tiny head frill crown, and its feathers comparable to a lovely gown.

 

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Studies and even human experiences have proven time and again that having a pet helps maintain good physical and mental health. Pets provide happiness to people, which in turn helps lower their blood pressure and reduce their stress and anxiety levels. In the face of this global crisis, having a pet in your home is very comforting indeed. However, people are increasingly getting worried that they might catch the infection and infect others or if they can transmit the virus to them. They are anxious about how to take care of them because times have changed over the past months.

Here are some frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers on taking care of your pets in the face of COVID-19.

How should I take care of my pets and interact with them during this outbreak?

The safest and most convenient way to take care of your pet is by observing hygiene both for you and your pet. Constantly wash your hands the proper way and make sure you shower and change clothes if you have gone out to buy food and other items. This way, you prevent acquiring the infection, and you avoid transmitting it to your family or to the people you’re staying within your home. If your pets are close by and you happen to cough or sneeze, it is possible that the droplets from your sneeze get to their collar or on areas of their body and then to other people who interact with them.

Are pets vulnerable to getting coronavirus, and do they have vaccines to treat them?

COVID-19 is a new virus that was discovered three or four months ago. It is a component of the coronavirus family that manifests with the simple cold to more complicated coronaviruses that may cause SARS and MERS. In light of this, canine coronavirus vaccines sold in the markets are made to protect animals from intestinal infections. They are not actually licensed and have not proven to fight against respiratory infections. This was confirmed by the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University.

Source: publicdomainpictures.net

However, because animals can transmit other coronaviruses to other animals as well as to humans, these vaccines are beneficial to treat these specific diseases, although there has never been enough proof to confirm that vaccinating dogs and other pets with these vaccines will offer cross-protection against COVID-19.

Should I not get close to my pet if I don’t feel well or if I have a fever?

Even though it has not been confirmed whether or not animals can capably transmit the new coronavirus, much has yet to be studied and understood about COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that people who don’t feel well or have a fever should not handle their pets and get close to them. It is always good to err on the side of caution just so your pet or pets are safe from being infected or becoming sick.

What if I get sick? What do I do to take care of my pet’s well-being?

• Buy more food than usual for your pet, perhaps an extra bag of dog food or cat food so that there are enough supplies for them in case you need to have yourself quarantined at home or in the hospital.
• Find a designated person to hold responsible in case of an emergency. It may be a family member, a close friend, or a neighbor you can trust.
• Remember to practice good hygiene at all times. Make sure that your pet is groomed regularly. Clean their food bowls, bed materials, and toys.

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What if my pet gets sick?

So much has yet to be studied about COVID-19, which is why pet owners must contact their veterinarian if this happens. Before bringing your pet to the clinic, call the vet first, as maybe he has protocols and questions before he receives your pet, like if it has been in contact with someone infected with the virus recently, among others. This is the clinic or facility’s way of keeping their employees safe and protected.