Two weeks ago, we heard from three veterinarians about how pandemic protocols are affecting their clinics and their clients. Last week, pet owners and pet professionals shared their recent experiences at veterinary clinics during the coronavirus crisis.
This week, more vet clinic experiences from across the country and around the world.
Shelah Bloom (North Carolina)
Emergency vet: All forms filled out online/over the phone. Designated tech came out to get my dog. They called me with their findings, gave me instructions over the phone (and via a report over email), and tech brought the dog back to the car. I waited the whole time. Mask, gowns, gloves.
Regular vet: filled in online forms for a new patient (we have a visitor dog in my house), but then there was a form I had to fill our physically—and the receptionist took this out to me. Then the vet tech came and picked the dog up. I dropped her off and came back later, another vet tech came out. Same attire as above.
I felt very safe, and though I usually like to be with my dogs at the vet, I trust both of these practices and really didn’t feel anything about leaving them. They were well taken care of and everyone was kept safe. I’m thankful the emergency vet devised a system to triage and get everyone seen (my wait was only an hour or so) and glad my regular vet is seeing pets in need. My thanks to them for working during this time!
Glenda Lee (Maine) Dixie, who will be six at the end of June, a Pyrenees, went today for a UTI. Kind of felt like how it would feel to send a toddler into the doc alone! New vet for us, so I called this morning to let them know a she’s a Pyr so can be stubborn, she is a runner, she’s got some fairly severe separation anxiety, and she’s deaf. The vet was awesome! The staff was incredible and the vet spent 10–15 minutes talking to me on the phone. I was impressed and Dixie got to make new friends and get her meds!
Debby McMullen (Pennsylvania) Kenzo is an eight-year-old Caucasian Ovcharka who weighs 160 pounds. He has some immune-compromised issues and had three days in critical care about a year and a half ago. He is much better now but regular blood work is necessary to make sure that his liver values are within normal limits. He is also on Gabapentin twice a day for arthritis and thyroid meds twice a day, as well as Ursodial once a day for his liver and metronidazole twice a day for his liver. When his liver numbers are good, he gets rechecks about every 30 to 40 days. I go to my vet regularly. Kenzo got a during-the-pandemic blood test because he has to get regular blood tests to check his liver values. He is used to being taken in the back from the lobby just for this quick blood draw. He wasn’t terribly thrilled about being taken in the building from my vehicle, but he went. They returned him quickly. I didn’t feel very impressed with their own protective action though. The tech wasn’t wearing gloves or a mask and she looked at me like I was crazy when I asked her if she wanted me to Clorox wipe the (biothane) leash before handing it over. I did Clorox wipe it when he came back. I have since been there a couple of times to get medication and they have improved their procedures in that the techs are all wearing masks now and they agreed to toss the bag with medication through my open passenger window rather than expecting me to take it by hand. They are taking payment over the phone, though they will accept cash.
Trish McMillan (North Carolina) My seven-year-old cat, Pangur Bán, was having breathing problems last Saturday, so I took her to the emergency clinic as my regular vet is closed for the pandemic. There was a sign in the window with a number to call, and the parking spaces were numbered. A masked and gloved tech came to my parking spot and had me sign paperwork on an iPad. She took the cat inside in my carrier and then brought the empty carrier back to me. The veterinarian called in a bit with preliminary results from the physical exam, recommended blood and X-rays to determine why she was having trouble breathing. I authorized these charges. She said Pan was more comfortable and breathing more slowly in an oxygen cage. About an hour later she called back. Bad news, there was an inoperable growth in Pan’s chest. Likely cancer. The vet went over treatment possibilities, but we agreed together that euthanasia was the most humane outcome. This was the first pet of mine, other than one chicken, whom I was not with all the way to the end. They offered me the option of taking her home and having the in-home euthanasia veterinarian come out. Or they would put her back in a carrier and I could say goodbye to her outside the clinic. Because she was on oxygen, and doesn’t love strangers handling her, or the carrier, I did not want to stress her further and told them to go ahead. They emailed me an invoice and I paid it online.
They then brought me her body, in a little cardboard coffin, and a tiny paw print. Pangur Bán is buried on my farm in my little pet cemetery. I do not think the veterinary clinic could have done anything any better, while considering the health of their employees. I am just glad they were open when I needed them. And that my little cat didn’t have to suffer any longer. I got a sympathy card from the clinic today. I miss my little white lap cat.
Photo by Laurie Schlossnagle
Sandie Hanlon (Massachusetts) My 11-year-old border collie stopped wanting to chase his ball all of a sudden, and his rear seemed wobbly. I had only worked him on low cavellettis for a few minutes, and I threw his ball once. At home, he would go up the stairs or jump on the bed without help. My vet is also a chiropractor/rehabilitation vet. At the clinic, one tech is designated to get your pet from the car and return them after the visit. She was gowned-up in complete PPE gear. The receptionist gets called when you arrive. My vet did a chiropractic exam, prostate, and found my dog’s sacrum was out on one side, along with a strained tail. I still don’t know what happened to cause this. Because of his age and symptoms, he needed to be seen. My vet called my cell phone to discuss the visit and get more information from me. We discussed getting meds and I paid over the phone. The tech brought my bagged medicine and supplements. It was very smooth and my dogs know the staff and I fully trust them. Fortunately, it was resolved in a day or so after the adjustment.
Susan Ewing (New York) Same procedure as Sandie Hanlon mentioned except that my vet is having trouble getting certain supplies. I had to go to a regular pharmacist to get my medication. Also, one of my dogs is on Intestinal Diet and they weren’t sure when they’d get more so I bought the two bags they had. The doctor explained everything to me over the phone and I didn’t feel rushed. Super staff at my vet’s, so I felt fine letting my dog go in without me. He’s a Pembroke Welsh corgi, two years old. He had a problem with his eye. Unfortunately, the vet thinks my dog might need to see a specialist and that’s in Buffalo, and with the virus, I am not venturing into Buffalo. Depends, I guess, on how long we need to self-isolate, but for now, he’s not in pain so we’ll see. The last time I went, friends were in the car near mine. We had a nice chat while waiting so that made it fun.
Linda D. Keast (Oregon) My 14-year old female papillon, Lili, tore her ACL right before the lockdown. We were referred to Cascade Veterinary Referral Center—Specialty & Emergency in Tigard. At our first evaluation, I was allowed to come into the building to check her in, and we met with Dr. Howard in an exam room to discuss whether or not to put her through TPLO surgery at her age. I went with “yes, please.” Lili is a lively adventuresome little wart, and would not do well emotionally if she could not run and jump. I cleared the surgery in advance with Trupanion, and we were scheduled two weeks out. As the date approached, news about vets being asked to divert their supplies to human doctors had me doubting the surgery would happen. However, two days beforehand, I got a call confirming the surgery and explaining their new “curb service” protocols. That morning, I parked away from the other cars and, following the instructions on the sign posted there, called into the office and got all of the final details nailed down. They sent out a tech with a clipboard of paperwork for me to sign, then the tech picked up Lili to take her inside. He wore no mask. The same procedure when I picked her up the following day, with the inclusion of a phone chat with Dr. Howard. The tech brought out Lili and her medications. Our follow-up visit was today—same parking and phone procedure, and again I didn’t get to accompany Lili inside. I think that raised her anxiety level substantially: Dr. Howard, in our phone conversation, was concerned not about her leg (which was fine) but about her panting and raspy breath, something he hadn’t seen in our first visit. I pointed out that (a) she now knew what this place was, and (b) I was not there to support her. And in fact, the second she was back in the car, her breathing became normal. We go through this again in four weeks, and I’m hoping I can go in with her this time. Trupanion, by the way, promptly paid 90% of the cost of the surgery.
Donna Lange (Washington) I’ve been a couple of times here in Walla Walla. All handled very professionally. Someone met me in the parking lot and asked basic questions. Then they took both cats in and did tests, blood work, etc. Brought cats out to me when done. Also followed up by phone in a couple of days. Our cats seemed to do fine. One person who came out had a mask, one didn’t. But that was a couple of weeks ago, so I’m sure more are wearing masks now. The cats were in carriers, so it was an easy handoff. And I was told that they did great inside the office. One is 17.5, and one 15. Another 15-year-old is going tomorrow.
Margaret Tyler (Illinois) I took my two-year-old foster, a golden retriever, in for his chronically yeasty ears. I called from the parking lot and a vet tech came out in her mask and gloves and took him out of his crate with the clinic’s lead. They checked his ears and the vet called me. We decided to change treatment; he administered the new meds. I had called in earlier in the day with my credit card to refill a prescription for one of my own dogs, so the tech brought those pills and my foster back and put him back in the crate. I did think about my 88-year-old sister with her little terrier mix and no cell phone. She had to knock on the door and wait. (She lives quite a distance from all relatives.) Usually we chat a little about some current dog health topic when I’m in the clinic with the staff, but that didn’t feel right under the circumstances. I missed that.
Christine Smith (Australia) We took our senior Devon Rex cat to our regular vet (Blacktown, NSW Australia) last weekend, as she had developed a rash which seemed to need a bit more than home treatment. I phoned ahead and was told only one person per animal where possible. We (cat and I) arrived a bit later than I wanted to, because she hid herself—shakes head—and there was a queue. Everyone had to stay 1.5 metres apart, and only one person was allowed in the waiting room with their pet at a time. Everyone was very polite and all the animals were very well behaved, even the puppies that were very interested in my caged kitty. When we went inside, we had to stand back from the reception desk, as they do not have a screen (it will be installed this week). The vets and the nurses all wore face masks. In the surgery, the vet was his usual calm and knowledgable self and we left with the problem under control, although my cat was a bit scared of him at first—I think because of the mask. I paid by card, although I could not tap as my card does not do that. The vet told me our area is considered a “hotspot,” so extra precautions are being taken. When we left, the receptionist wiped down the door handles and counter with disinfectant, and also mopped the floor after us. Waiting time 30 minutes in a queue in the sunshine, appointment time ten minutes, time at reception about five minutes. Very courteous and positive experience, but unsure how it would be possible if the weather was less than a perfect day!
Sara Maynard (Trinidad and Tobago) In my country, some vets are handling only emergency cases, while others are dealing with spays and vaccinations, etc. It depends on the clinic and staff. Most are operating with a reduced staff. I just took the pup in for her shots and my other dog in to remove stitches as he had major surgery two weeks ago on his leg. I was allowed to take them in after the clinic closed. However, most clinics are only allowing one patient in at a time, they are opening doors, etc., so you can’t touch anything other than your pet. You wait in your car with the animal until you are called to see the vet. Foot bath placed outside, hand sanitizer on desk to use before touching the credit card machine. All staff and customers wear masks, as it is now mandatory in public places.
Have you and your pet visited your veterinarian in the last few weeks?
Did your experience differ greatly from what our commenters found?
How did your pet react to the changes from visits you’ve had in the past?
