Going Potty During a Quarantine

After the CDC’s sweeping announcement for most Americans to stay indoors and restrain from outdoor activity, most of us have accepted our fate that we're going to be battling the Coronavirus pandemic for potentially a long time. That means working from home, doing schoolwork online, FaceTiming our friends for eHappy Hour, and yes, binging on Friends for the 8th time now. (Seriously...find some new shows! I hear that the Tiger King on Netflix is hot right now...give it a shot.) And unfortunately, yes, that also means no going on walks for our furry creatures as well.

 Cue all the sad tears... *sniff*

Being cooped up at home might have some adverse effects on your pets. I mean, look at us humans. I, for one, have been working at home in my bathrobe for over a week now, and I have no shame at all... But as far as our pets are concerned, some of the outdoor activities can be replaced with things you can do for them indoors, so hear me out.

First of all, make sure that you have enough supplies to get you through for the next couple of weeks. Don't horde, but do stock up on pet foods, cleaning supplies, and preventive medication like flea, tick, heartworm, and as well as any prescription meds and/or specific diets your pets might need.

Second, going outside to take care of... poopage business isn't an option for the foreseeable future, and that can be especially concerning for urban dogs who rely on the daily walks. According to this article, the easiest way to teach your pet how to potty in the apartment is acting like you're going outside — with a leash, bags, treats, and all. This could be challenging for the first few days, especially since you've spent so long teaching Fluffles to not poop in the house. Designate a specific spot or corner in your apartment, and use commercially available pee pads or newspapers.

Finally, this goes without saying, but wash and disinfect everything in the vicinity after your pet's bowel movement. Healthcare workers are already overworked from treating Covid-19 patients. They don't need to worry about you catching other diseases from improperly touching your pets' urine or poop and not washing your hands after the fact.

Remember, this too shall pass in time. Until then, stay patient, exercise an abundance of caution, and most importantly, stay safe.