Vet Appointments During Covid 19

[Ingrid H]

Anyone having trouble getting to a vet for their dog? I am. My vet has been having health issues of her own (Lyme disease) on top of mandated closures making appointments undependable at best for the past 6 months or so, but we really need to see her and it's a 3 week wait.

 

[Panama]

All of our vets are open. They never closed.

 

[MyBuddy]

I don't think ours ever closed either.

 

[Clary]

Mine were open for emergencies but closed otherwise 5 weeks ago. Closed since then.

 

[Kaiser2016]

Ours is open too. Maybe due to the Lyme issues it’s just her clinic that has a long wait? Not an ideal time to start with a new vet, but why not give someone else a try if it can’t wait? I’d chat with them over the phone first to make sure I like them and then make sure that they (the vet him/herself) will call you to explain what happened. I believe you won’t be able to go in to the clinic with your dog though. Although, it being me, I’d also ask if I could come in and then let them know I’d be wearing a mask for safety. Worst they can do is say no.

 

[Silent Dobe]

Ours has always stayed open. No contact appointments though, they walk out to collect the dog for his/her appointment. I'm taking Vex in next week (muzzled of course! Though he's never been a bad boy at the vet, this would be the first visit without me in the room.)

Hope you can get in soon!

 

[JanS]

Ours closed at least a month ago and Albert's appointment for thyroid and heartworm blood tests was cancelled. They can still do emergency stuff but they have to come out to your car and bring them in without you.

I still go there to pick up meds but this is the way it is now.

 

[JanS]

but we really need to see her and it's a 3 week wait.

Is Hans okay?

 

[Atingles10]

Our vet has been available for necessity appointments but they do come out and get Red and bring him in alone. They will not do neuters or anything like that right now but they had already refused to neuter Red anyway. The vet that agreed to do his neuter is actually doing it tomorrow. My friend is a vet tech there so he goes in with her and is on his best behavior

 

[Ingrid H]

Is Hans okay?

Not really. He's not doing very well but seems fairly stable.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

We are open and have 24/7 emergency services. We are doing surgeries, dentals and appointments.

It is crazy the workload we have with the closure. Doc doesn’t turn anything down and we as his staff get a bit testy over it but it is what it is.

I sure hope you can get Hans in for a checkup. If you were down here we would definitely work you in.

 

[obbanner]

I picked up meds yesterday (in New Jersey). I had to call when I arrived and sit in my car until they were delivered. It's at least 100 feet from the door to the parking lot, so I was joking with the tech about her FitBit. She said she enjoys it when the weather is nice, but when it's cold and raining, it's a long, miserable day.

My wait was fifteen minutes and I watched dogs being dropped off and picked up in the parking lot. The practice seems normal. I don't think I'd like having my dogs examined without me being present to ask or answer questions, though.

 

[JanS]

I don't think I'd like having my dogs examined without me being present to ask or answer questions, though.

Not ideal to me either but I am going to ask about having their blood work done so we can start them on the Heartgard. I don't mind letting them bring either dog in just to draw blood and I have seen vet techs out in the parking lot explaining things to owners when they bring the pet back out to them.

@Ingrid H would it be an option to find an alternate vet just to check him out and prescribe meds? The meds made all the difference in the world to Della. Prayers are sent.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

We FaceTime with our clients. They get to see everything we do with their pets. It’s amazing how many dogs and cats are less reactive without the owners.

Dogs that we have had to muzzle or sedate in the past are perfectly behaved without their owner there.
Damn who knew. Lol

The only ones we allow clients in with are the police dogs.
They tend to have attitude even with their owners so without their owners they become a huge liability and one we refuse to expose the vets and staff to without their handler.
We require the handlers to wear mask and use hand sanitizer and we give them a wet cloth with antiviral solution to wipe their K9s down before we examine them.

It was trial and error starting out but we have it manageable now.
It’s still a lot more work but not having clients in the front office is AWESOME!
Much less confusion, complaining and drama.

 

[Rnrgyrl]

Ours are open in Nc.
They cleaned both Chi’s toofs.
Kobe the Dobe had double eye infection. And hookworms still! He is five months and he’s been treated now a total of five times. Not sure where he’s picking it up from and all my other three dogs are fine! I am pretty much scooping their poop as soon as it falls out of their butt so it’s not sitting on the ground!
Tech came out to car.
I talk to her and gave her a list of my concerns.
Vet called me in my car.
She spent a good 22 minutes with me going over every single one of my concerns- my list. Very thorough.
Paid over the phone.
good to go.
They said they let the dobe run around in the surgical room and they were having a good time playing with him while he was there!

they never had closed.

 

[JanS]

Dogs that we have had to muzzle or sedate in the past are perfectly behaved without their owner there.
Damn who knew. Lol

LOL for some reason that doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[Lizbeli]

A little late here...

No emergency vets in your area? We are lucky to have two. Super expensive just to walk through the door but worth the peace of mind that your dog can be treated. I sat in my car outside for five hours the other day with my boy. Pretty much paid 100 bucks an hour too. Not pleasant, but worth it.

 

[GennyB]

Super expensive just to walk through the door

I hear that from so many people and I think it's ridiculous. It's pretty much the same price as a regular Vet around here.
Most of the emergency vets also have office space for specialist like a Cardiologist that are more expensive. That's understandable because they do have more education in their field.

 

[Lizbeli]

You are lucky GennyB! It was $130 just to go there. Ill have to look at my receipt and see how that charge was worded. My regular vet doesn't take emergency visits. They are so busy it’s impossible to get seen the same day.

 

[GennyB]

It was $130 just to go there.

My now RIP boy was shot by some neighbor kids on a Sunday, Easter Sunday in fact. We went to the doggy ER and the whole bill was about $150 with xrays and meds.