Last week, three veterinarians told us how their clinics and their clients are adjusting to pandemic protocols for health and safety. This week and next, we’ll hear from dog owners and dog professionals with their perspectives on vet clinic visits during the pandemic.
Virginia Rhodes Korn (Washington) Our 13-year-old springer went in last Wednesday for teeth brushing and urinalysis. They came out to the car and took her inside. I didn’t think it would be long, so I waited in the car. They came back out within ten minutes to tell me she has a two-inch mass in her mouth. I never saw it! They biopsied it and she is in there today getting it excised. Because of where the mass is located, they can’t remove as much as they would like. They have consulted with Washington State University about further treatment, and we will be going there for radiation and/or chemo. Our vet and his staff have been professional and caring, and that has really helped me as a pet owner. I have complete confidence in them.
Dave Koch (Washington) Brave’s yearly exam. She is nearly three and a half, Lab/border collie (I think). It was her regular vet. Called the desk from the parking lot, masked tech came out and greeted me, and I handed off the leash. Sat in the car for about 20 minutes. Tech returns with the pup, I called back into the desk with my credit card number. All pretty painless. Brave loves everyone and knows the routine there, so going with the tech was no issue.
Ginger Ewing (Washington) I’ve been to three different vets during the pandemic (my pug has a mast cell tumor). I’d say overall my experience has been similar to what everyone has described. Two small additions: Washington State University Veterinary Hospital wouldn’t allow our personal leash (halter was okay) into the clinic, and the time I paid with Care Credit I was allowed in the lobby, because Care Credit can’t be done over the phone. That was several weeks ago, though, and protocols may have changed. I’ve been very impressed with all the safety measures taken. My appointments have been smooth, thorough, and handled incredibly professionally.
Michel Berner (Virginia) I personally have not been, but a client went today. Her dog is a three-year-old Vizsla. Her vet had three kennel runs set up outside. Owner takes dog to assigned kennel number, places dog inside, removes collar and leash, closes door. At the door on the opposite side, the tech places a slip lead over the dog and takes it inside for the exam. Another tech is out sanitizing the kennel handles, walls, floor, as soon as the dog leaves. Any communication is done over the phone, or video messenger if needed. The payment is also over the phone. The return process is the reverse. My client said it was very well run!
Danette Benton (Florida) My four-year-old border collie had some tummy issues. I called and was given an appointment time. Pulled into the parking lot of the vet clinic and called them. A vet tech came out—gowned, gloved, and masked. I had to reassure my boy to go with her, probably because she did not look the same with all the PPE. He stopped and looked back at me twice, then followed her after I told him “It’s okay” each time. Vet called when done and brought him back to my vehicle with medicine and explained everything—all in PPE and from a six-foot distance. I had Clorox wipes in my car. I Cloroxed my boy’s leash and harness clasp. The vet office called and took my payment over the phone. My dog is now doing fine.
Photo by Marianne Mongeon Wilder
Lili Chin (California) I live in Los Angeles, and we had a follow-up visit for my 15-year-old Boston terrier with the neurology department of VCA Animal Emergency Hospital (about 15 minutes away). Boogie has been on a course of prednisone and we had made an appointment to have blood work done, as his liver ALT values were high last time. This appointment was made before the lockdown started. We first brought him here in late January when his back legs collapsed, he was breathing heavily, drooling, restless, and pressing his head against hard objects. It is very likely he has a brain issue. When my partner and I arrived with Boogie, we stayed in the car and I called them on my phone. The vet tech asked what make of car we were in, and a few questions about Boogie: how had he been doing, any symptoms, etc.? Then a vet tech came out to our car wearing protective gear. I had to remove Boogie’s harness and leash before she carried him (naked) back into the building. About 20 minutes later, they called me to ask more specific questions, and then a few minutes later, Dr. Sullivan (the neurologist) called and we discussed how Boogie was doing and what we would do going forward. I asked for a urinalysis and an eye exam in addition to blood work. Half an hour later, the vet tech brought Boogie back out to the car. I paid for the visit at home on the phone with my credit card. They will email me results when they have them. Any prescription refills will be done via 1-800-petmeds or Chewy’s (which I have done before). I was anxious at first, but felt very reassured by the vet staff. I think I might have been more anxious if I had been alone, but Nathan was with me, and when we were in the car, we listened to a podcast together on my phone. We also agreed that we wouldn’t make another follow-up appointment. If anything changes, I can call Dr. Sullivan.
Shelly Keel (Idaho) My 14-and-a-half-year-old labradoodle had surgery last week, Tuesday, to remove three very large malignant tumors. Once at the vet, you stay in your car and call the desk. Once a room is prepared for you, somebody comes out and—while maintaining social distance—gets you and your dog from the car and you go to the room through the empty lobby. Inside the room, they keep distance while doing pre-op check-in, Q&A, and approval signing of release form (via tablet). They took my dog to surgery and, upon completion and check-out, we repeated the same process to pick her up. While I was in the room waiting for her to be brought to me, somebody came in and asked my credit card number and input it to pay on a tablet. That person left and then my dog was brought to me, the staff went through the results and post-op care from across the room, and answered questions. They then escorted us through the empty lobby and out the door, where we went back to our car and left. They are a Fear Free vet office which not long ago set up for lots of space to make it easier on dogs, and so they were able to keep everybody at social distances for the virus management. Smaller offices would have had a harder time but still could have managed. Note: For precaution, I had my mask on and, upon reaching my car, I sanitized my hands before removing my mask and loading Dakota into the car.
Kim Campbell Thornton (California) Harper is a 12-year-old Cavalier. She was at the vet because she hasn’t been eating much recently. Keeper, also a Cavalier, went last month for an already-scheduled teeth cleaning, right after the SIP order went into effect, and everything was handled the same way. One of the things I noticed that first visit was that one of the vets, masked and gowned, was outside sanitizing the door handle. That time, they had me come in and pay (nobody else was in there) but that was well before the recommendation for everyone to wear a mask was made. We have been a couple of times since this all started. I pull into the parking lot, call and let them know we’re here and that, say, Harper is in the front passenger seat (where I’ve put her after our arrival). They come out and get the dog and I hang out in the car reading or listening to an audiobook. They bring the dog back when done, vet—masked—comes out and discusses results with me, and then we go home. They (now) have my credit card on file, so there’s no difficulty in paying and they email me the receipt and any test results.
Jules Weber (Maryland) I haven’t been. But I can tell you my vet’s current practices. (They were really good at communication and spelling everything out.)
1. They are seeing only emergency or urgent cases.
2. They have the parking spots numbered, and tell you what space to park in. (They don’t allow people to park next to each other.)
3. You stay in your car the entire time.
4. A vet tech comes and gets your animal. (They all have full PPE gear on.)
5. The animal is seen inside. You can be on the phone with the vet, so you can ask questions or request meds, etc. Verbal credit card authorization (heard by two people) is used for payment, so you don’t have to sign anything.
6. The vet tech brings your animal back out and loads them into your car.
People say that they are stressed and anxious about curbside vets, which is understandable. I went out of my way to completely obsessively research vets in my area before I decided on one. They had to be force-free handling, gentle, patient, intelligent people who really cared about the animals. But most importantly, they had to understand and encourage clicker training. And I found one. They are a half hour away—but worth it. Both my dogs are super socialized and laid back. So neither of my pups is concerned if the humans look different (wearing masks, etc). And I did a ton of handling with my Swissy as a puppy, and my service dog is bomb proof—even a stranger could handle them. (My vet isn’t a stranger, though.) So right now, I’m totally fine with it. My dogs would be totally fine with it. My cats would be totally fine with it. Even if I still had my “problem child” Juno, he was muzzle-trained. He would hate it. But I know my vet. And I trust my vet. And I know they would do everything in their power to make it as fast as possible and as comfortable as possible.
I wouldn’t subject an animal to the stress unless it was an emergency. I’m so sorry if you’re feeling anxious. I think most people are in these unusual times. But I can’t help but think of the vets who are trying to stay open. Their work isn’t easy. And now so many have added stress on top of an already stressful career (that’s riddled with suicide). The visits that make it easier for them, the fun puppy visits and super-social kitties . . . right now, some vets don’t have those because they are only seeing emergencies. That usually social kitty is stressed, so now they are working with fearful animals and owners. It’s a bad situation. And I think everyone is just trying to make the best of it.
I agree: veterinarians and their clinic staffs truly are essential services and service-givers for anyone with a pet or pets at home. If your pets stay healthy during the next months, you might not experience pandemic protocols at your veterinarian’s clinic, but if you do end up making a visit to your vet now, know what to expect by reading the information the clinic provides . . . before your appointment.
Next week, more pet owners and pet professionals on vet clinic visits during the pandemic.
