Vets?

[hotcrunchybiscuit]

I'm just thinking about the animals hence two animal related threads.

Will veterinary care still be available for our pets?

Yes

Yes. Saw vet recently. They took my dog at the door and returned him to me there.

A couple of vets did phone appointments .
The receptionist called me at home to take payment.

My vet has asked customers to call from the car park and they will come and get you at the right time.

They're also dong video and phone consults.

Our vets are currently open thankfully as twatt cat fell off a highshelf today he is walking fine but FFS charlie pick a better time!

I'm part of the accounts/admin team in our vets. I'm shocked vets, particularly farm vets this time of year arent officially key workers. A lot of our team are working from home, going to emergencies from home and our admin team is reduced working on rotation so we're still here answering calls and handing out drugs. Like above for dogs and cats etc our practice is asking clients to wait in cars and we will see animals in cars where possible or bring them in one at a time. It's crazy but vets and vet nurses need to be kept healthy to

Delivery, manufacturing, distribution etc of Veterinary medicines is included under key workers following the release of the government guidelines. It is covered under the food and other necessary goods section. We had clarification yesterday that this will cover vets , nurses and receptionists.

Our vets are only letting one person come with their pet and you've to wait in the car park until your instructed to come in, use hand gel many times and for repeat prescriptions they are posting them out and we pay online!

I think they should have been Keyworkers too!

Oh just seen the post above! I'm glad they are included!

My vets sent an email with how they're handling things.

You need an appointment even if it's an emergency. (This is normal protocol)

Only one person per animal to enter the vets.

Hand gel etc at the entrance.

They're clinically clean anyway and animals are not carriers so not really a massive risk is it.

Ah glad they're included, there was talk they weren't when I was last in work

Yes our vets is open.

Limited contact, and phone appointments also they will be rolling out a video thing next week.

@Runningjayne

I'm shocked vets, particularly farm vets this time of year arent officially key workers.

Why does every man and his dog think they ought to be classed as key workers? People want to be seen as part of this exclusive group without realising it's meant to be literally exclusively what's essential to the crisis.

Well we eat farm animals so I'd say vets keeping the animals we eat healthy is pretty crucial. Vets and vet nurses take an oath, we have a duty of care to our patients, in the last few days we've had several emergencies through our doors, broken limbs, collapsed lungs, disclocated limbs , emergency caesarian etc. We cannot leave these animals to suffer horrendous pain and distress.

Our vets are on standby to help out with C-19 but have said that there will remain emergency cover.

Also recommended keeping the cats in so nobody strokes them... fortunately mine won't anyone near them when they are out the house!

@Clipsy ok then when someone’s cat gets ran over we’ll let it die an agonising death instead of being treated. Or someone’s dog is having chemo - sorry that’s cancelled.

And we’ll also stop vaccinating our countries animals so we have outbreaks of viruses.

@BlueGheko thanks you are totally right! We have been in situations which were life or death with our pets and if it wasn’t for our vet being available then our pets could have been in agony or worse. Our cat was dying and too ill to go to the vet and our vet came to our house every day to try and save him. Vets are heroes too.

Testing for food chain animals is carrying on...

Our vet is doing video consultations, asking people to wait in the car instead of the waiting room when coming for appointments and asking people to keep 2m distance to staff.

yes. More video/ phone consultations. I`ve just moved and kitty had to see the new vet yesterday to be able to issue repeats on his medication. But apart from yearly jabs this summer I can ring through for repeat prescriptions etc.

@Ruby @Ruby8719
The situations you describe are sad, but don't make you a key worker.

I'm not saying you job isn't important. I'm not saying you didn't study to a high level. I'm not saying I think I could do it. I'm not saying I haven't been grateful you do.

Important jobs aren't all essential to the effort. Being a 'hero' in thr way you describe does nothing to save human life.

I'm saying you're not a key worker because you're not key to saving human life. And that matters more, always, but especially right now.

@clipsy turns out vets are key workers and so they should be.
That's not me btw I'm not a vet but in our practice on my last shift there were 6 farm emergencies, life or death for livestock on top of routine work that needs to be done. What can be cancelled has been. It's such a busy time of year with lambing and calving. Come june it wont be anywhere near as busy with emergencies

The joint RCVS and BVA guidance statement can be found here - it's clear that many small animal general practice vets ought not be considered key workers, where some OVs and farm vets and those working in emergency/OOH capacities should be.

If you need to visit your vet, please check their website or social media feed for information and/or call them before you make the journey. They may be able to offer you an alternative to an appointment or at least inform you of any social distancing measures you will need to observe on your visit.

The next person to 'pop in' wanting to stockpile flea and worm medication is getting a poke in the eye with a suitably long stick in the name of social distancing

Yes I had to get a pet put to sleep yesterday .

Yes I had to get a pet put to sleep yesterday

So sorry,

They are classed as key workers in the US.

Member so sorry x