As more people venture indoors into self-isolation, concerns are emerging over how to keep the community active and healthy.
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It is as much a concern for the four-legged members of the family as for the humans, especially if the pets happen to be as energetic as Heidi McGrath's border collie Snipe.
A fifth-year veterinary sciences student at Charles Sturt University, Ms McGrath has been self-isolating with her partner on her property in Borambola this week as her classes move online.
"I think she's enjoying having me and my partner home with her," said the 25-year-old student.
But even with the new-found attention, Snipe's daily routine has been disrupted and her avenues for exercise and socialising have been stemmed.
"I think with active dogs it is most important to ensure that we give them plenty of mental stimulation," Ms McGrath said.
"I'm taking breaks from the desk to do 15-minute training sessions and teaching new tricks [to] keep her mentally stimulated."
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To keep Snipe from "scoffing down her food", Ms McGrath recommends making mealtimes a little more challenging.
"Think about different ways to feed her, so not just putting her food in a bowl in front of her," she said.
"I may spread her dry food throughout a patch of the lawn to find. People can also buy 'snuffle mats' to stimulate the same thing, or use Kongs with treats inside."
Dr Kiri Westphalen at Kooringal Veterinarian Hospital commends Ms McGrath's approach to keeping her dog well stimulated.
"You can stick some dog biscuits in a soft drink bottle, that's a cheap way to give them something to do," Dr Westphalen said.
"We don't want to take them down to the dog park at the moment, so an obstacle course can be good for their agility. There are a lot of good videos online to watch for ideas."
With more time at home with her dog, Ms McGrath has been adding some physical challenges, like a classic game of fetch or tug-of-war.
"I'm also trying to go for regular walks with her now that routine has changed, which is as good for us as it is for them," she said.
"I have a horse so I can take the dog for a walk with the horse, but I am lucky to be able to do that.
As the point of social distancing and self-isolating is to keep humans from transmitting COVID-19, Dr Westphalen warns pet owners to keep an eye on their furry friends to ensure they too do not contract the virus.
"Dogs and cats do get a coronavirus too, but it is species-specific," she said.
"Unless you're part-cat, you can't catch it from them."
In dogs, the virus exhibits as a gastroenteritis-like virus, but in cats, it can be a combination of gastro and respiratory problems.
"It looks like cat flu, which is what it sounds like," Dr Westphalen said.
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In dogs it can be deadly, cats are more interesting. It's relatively benign but can mutate and become what's called 'feline infectious peritonitis', of which there is no treatment."
Over the past couple of weeks, Dr Westphalen said she has seen two cases of the coronavirus in cats brought into the Kooringal vet hospital.
"One had unresolving gastro and it didn't recover. The other had respiratory issues and it recovered," she said.
"At the moment, we're encouraging anyone who is elderly or isolating due to illness to get in touch if they're pet is sick. We prefer to come to you and if you confine your animal outside, we can take a look at them while you stay inside.
"If you're well though, you can still come [to the vet hospital], you just might have to wait longer so that we can space out appointments."