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Vet Appointments During Covid 19

I agree. We paid $200 and change just for the xrays. My regular vet charges $50 to walk through the door, everything else extra.
 
Our closest ER vet is 30min away. Living sort of rurally, the regular vets are not on call. Java's bloat scare cost us $500. They gave her some Rx for gas and some pain relievers because of arthritis they saw in her spine by xray. Then we were sent to our regular vet for follow up and what to do. Which like @Lizbeli is $50 just for the room, plus any other fees to rule out other issues only to reiterate what the ER vet stated, "she probably has IVDD" as you can't 100% confirm without MRI. They were very thorough, and of course she was fine by the time we got to the ER. But I knew something was very wrong so the peace of mind was worth it in the end. But it isn't cheap. Will definitely be getting insurance when we get a doberman.

@Ingrid H I hope you were able to take him to a vet. Thinking of you guys.
 
Last week I got an email from the vet, suggesting Rocky is due for a wellness check.
He being 10ish years old now I agreed that would be a good idea and responded to the email, arranging an appointment for today, 6/28 in the morning.

I received another email within minutes confirming the appointment but there was no arrival time mentioned.

I call this morning before 8 to confirm a time as there was none listed.
They inform me that due to Covid they are only taking emergency cases.
It should be noted here they are a 24 hr emergency vet as well as a Monday-Friday veterinarian during business hours.

They told me over the phone they have vaccination clinic on Wednesday and saturdays and the check could be done then. 😡🤔

I did t bother asking. But why send out emails advising people to do something and make an appointment then tell them they can only do it this day or that?
 
I'd be a little ticked about that Gel. Are they all like that or is it time to find a new vet?
 
But why send out emails advising people to do something and make an appointment then tell them they can only do it this day or that?
I'm wondering if it was an automated notice that they haven't updated yet. Ugh that would be frustrating to try to schedule down to two days a week. Ours are already booked out 3-4 weeks and that's with 6 days available.
 
I finally took Oji in on Friday. Our nearby (within walking distance) vet had sent me some email reminders and even a postcard offering like $20 off and reading "We miss you!" Not typed directly for me, rather a standard postcard.

I asked about bringing in children with me, as I would not really like to do that at all – cramped quarters to be sure. This is in a city-like setting in a small old building. On the phone the woman told me that no customers are allowed in the building. We just let them take the dog in. In years past, I used to not even let the vets take my Dobe into the back without me. Now, I'm like "Here."

Anyway, I show up with my girls in tow and the young inexperienced woman who comes out is unsure about things because (as the sign on the door says) only one person may enter with their pet. So a classic case of differing information. Turns out they went ahead and took Oji, and my girls and I went for a stroll while we waited. The vet gave me a call about 10 minutes later for our consultation and before they administered the shot. (I had told them I wanted to talk about which vaccines to give and which not).

So yeah. Even though the $20 off postcard was expired, they honored it! I have to say also that i have not received much pushback from this vet on my rejecting shots sometimes. This, even though I seem to get a different Dr. each time. I don't know if I just project an image of being no nonsense or just knowing what I'm talking about or if it's often younger female Drs. I get and they don't feel confident enough to question me on things or what; but I appreciate it!

Of course, they could not even check Oji's mouth at all because based on past behavior I advised them to put on a muzzle right away. Oh and DO NOT try to take his temperature the traditional way. There was a little bleeding last time, and not from Oji.
 
That was my first thought. Auto-emails, set for x months since they last saw your dog? I'd be cross about that myself!
I’m thinking you and @Rits are probably correct. It’s been about one year.
I'd be a little ticked about that Gel. Are they all like that or is it time to find a new vet?
Not a chance. Doc Roy over there is the guy that caught Daisy’s murmur. I trust him.
They just need to update their program a bit it seems.
 
Wow! We're all back to normal. You just call and make an appointment and take your dog in like we always have. Thank goodness for that cause I'm not thrilled about someone taking my dog out of sight.
 
Wow! We're all back to normal. You just call and make an appointment and take your dog in like we always have. Thank goodness for that cause I'm not thrilled about someone taking my dog out of sight.
I don't think our vet ever didn't let you come in. I wasn't there during the height of Covid but every time I've gone there they just bring you into a room. There's a sign out front that says to call when you arrive. But every time I call they said, yeah come on in. This is a private business not a conglomerate. So it's not like they keep a room full of clients. They usually will only have one or two people in the waiting room and others in the service rooms. I would hate not being able to come in with my dog.
 
I believe the vets had to follow AVMA protocol and couldn't allow clients in the room, at least that's what ours said. Ever since we brought Ripley home last summer it was like that except her very first appt. They let one client in. Then they went to curbside and you had to text, they would come out take them back and the Dr. Would talk to you on the phone while doing the exam. I wasn't super comfortable about that idea, especially with a puppy 😕 but had no choice so I'm glad things are going back to normalish. Ours is only allowing one client for now. They also recently are closed on Saturdays because of everything 🙁
 
We are fully back to normal but I will still escort unnecessary people out. They are the ones that are up close and personal in other client’s space.
When people get nasty with me, telling me to do the anatomically impossible, I simply say “take a number
and stand in line.” I then pull a paper out of my pocket with a minus zero on it and hand it to them.
 
Our closest ER vet is 30min away. Living sort of rurally, the regular vets are not on call. Java's bloat scare cost us $500. They gave her some Rx for gas and some pain relievers because of arthritis they saw in her spine by xray. Then we were sent to our regular vet for follow up and what to do. Which like @Lizbeli is $50 just for the room, plus any other fees to rule out other issues only to reiterate what the ER vet stated, "she probably has IVDD" as you can't 100% confirm without MRI. They were very thorough, and of course she was fine by the time we got to the ER. But I knew something was very wrong so the peace of mind was worth it in the end. But it isn't cheap. Will definitely be getting insurance when we get a doberman.

@Ingrid H I hope you were able to take him to a vet. Thinking of you guys.
Skynyrd's whole adventure yesterday cost $780!!
 
Then they went to curbside and you had to text, they would come out take them back and the Dr. Would talk to you on the phone while doing the exam. I wasn't super comfortable about that idea, especially with a puppy 😕 but had no choice so I'm glad things are going back to normalish.
I have yet to be able to bring Phoebe in myself but they are back open now so I'll finally be able to bring her in when she's due in August.

I don't think I've actually walked a dog into our vets office since late 2019 since the dogs were caught up on things until the shutdown started in March of 2020.
 
Our regular vet now will let one person in with their dog. You call when you get there and then a Vet tech will come out and escort you in right to an exam room.
 
Our regular vet now will let one person in with their dog. You call when you get there and then a Vet tech will come out and escort you in right to an exam room.
It's the same here, so I went in with Kaiser. Everyone was still masked, no one in the waiting room - you stay in the exam room and even make payment in there. I didn't mind it. Better than sending the dog in on his own which I wouldn't want to do.
 
It's the same here, so I went in with Kaiser. Everyone was still masked, no one in the waiting room - you stay in the exam room and even make payment in there. I didn't mind it. Better than sending the dog in on his own which I wouldn't want to do.
That's exactly how ours have been. I've never been there with a bunch of people but I'm sure if someone shows up with extra people in tow, they only let the dog and the owner come in. Which is truly understandable. They don't need a roomful of people. I'm just glad I can go in with my dog. And yes, we even paid the bill in the exam room. Fine with me!
 

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