Companion animal health and, consequently, welfare could suffer in the longer term due to the coronavirus crisis unless steps are taken, the UK’s National Office of for Animal Health warns.
In its new report, ‘Covid-19 and Companion Animal Health & Welfare: Impact and Considerations for the UK’, NOAH looks at the impact of the virus on the availability of veterinary services and the affect this could have on companion animal health and welfare – and suggests actions required to mitigate.
Chief executive Dawn Howard said: “Even as lockdown measures have started to be eased, the covid-19 crisis still continues to have an impact on how companion animal veterinary care can take place. It has brought into sharp focus the need to support responsible pet ownership by helping to enable safe access to veterinary services and the need to continue to monitor any impact on animal health and welfare.
WORK TOGETHER
“We are calling on the animal health community to work together to raise awareness: to help pet owners more fully understand their pets’ needs and to support them and the veterinary profession in addressing them safely at this challenging time.
“We believe there is also a Governmental responsibility to act, with the need for a Government minister to have responsibility for both pet health and welfare,” she said.
NOAH represents the UK animal health industry, promoting the benefits of safe, effective, quality products and services for the health and welfare of all animals.
