 |
| You can take your pets to the vet...but you will need to practice social distancing. |
Now that the global community is coming to terms with a
pandemic, veterinary clinics are changing the way they operate to minimise
risks to staff from contact with our human clients.
You can help your veterinary team by:
- If you have been unwell or in contact with someone who has been unwell and need to take your pet to the vet, phone ahead and let the vet clinic know;
- Order medications and food by phone to minimise the amount of time you need to spend in the clinic and avoid unnecessary trips;
- Limit veterinary visits to one person per animal coming into the clinic;
- If you are able, ask a friend or family member to take your pet to the vet for you;
- Reschedule non-urgent appointments until you are well or your self-isolation period has concluded.
Please ensure you don’t let your stocks of medication or
prescription food run too low before you order more, as there may be some delays
in orders.
We may see some additional changes in the near future, including the use of telemedicine to help some animals and their owners.
Fellow blogger and infectious disease guru Scott Weese
shared some excellent data compiled by the Ontario Veterinary Medical
Association showing how hospitals have altered their operations, and what
social distancing measures they have implemented. Check it out here: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2020/03/articles/animals/covid-19-and-veterinary-clinics/
If you're at home and you have a spare 30 minutes, you can undertake a very short, free online course on coronavirus. You will need to create an account. You do not need to be a health care worker or expert to do the course, and you will receive a certificate at the end. The handwashing videos are great. https://covid-19training.gov.au/
