Caring for your pet when you're ill

We have discussed how to take care of your pets when they are sick. But, have you ever thought about how to take care of your pet friends when you fall sick? When you lose much of your strength or mobility, simple tasks like walking a dog or cleaning a cat's litter box can seem overwhelming (too much to handle). And if your immune system is weakened, you must take extra precautions to avoid disease-causing agents that any human or animal including pets can transmit.

Yet, living with an illness doesn't mean you have to live without your beloved pet. And, in most cases, you need not give up your pet. Pets provide us with a source of affection, support, and acceptance; enable us to feel needed and valued; and ease the pain, sorrow, and loneliness often experienced during illness.

Although pets can do wonders for our physical and mental well-being, they can also get and transmit disease. To minimise the risk your pet poses to your health, you must minimise the risks to your pet's health. The key is to understand how best to care for your pet and to work with your veterinarian to keep your pet healthy.

Certain pets are more challenging than others. Likewise, puppies and kittens may be more prone to diseases. And new pets may come with incomplete or unknown medical histories. This does not mean that you have to give up your playful puppy, or can't get a new pet. It simply means that you need to rely on a veterinarian to advise you on proper pet selection and care.

No pet is guaranteed to be or remain disease-free. But your veterinarian can suggest preventive guidelines to keep a pet healthy, test your pet for parasites and other problems, and provide medical care to help a sick pet recover. And you can minimise risks for you and your pet by keeping your animal indoors, making sure it's well fed and groomed, and taking it to the veterinarian for vaccinations and annual check-ups.

What can you do to protect yourself?

If you have a weakened immune system, follow these precautions:

* Wash your hands after handling a pet.

* Wear rubber gloves when changing a litter box or cleaning up after a pet, and wash your hands afterwards.

* Keep your pet's nails short to minimise scratches.

* Follow your veterinarian's advice on keeping your pet free of fleas and ticks.

* Keep your pet indoors and use a leash outdoors to prevent your pet from hunting, scavenging, fighting, and engaging in other activities that expose it to other animals and disease.

* Keep your pet's living and feeding areas clean.

* Keep your pet's vaccinations up to date.

* Seek veterinary care immediately for a sick pet.

What can you do to meet your pet's basic needs?

If your condition makes everyday pet care too challenging, you'll need to find outside assistance to make sure your pet gets the food, grooming, exercise, and general care it needs. Get another family member, a relative, friend or even a neighbour to lend a hand. They themselves may enjoy it.