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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Is anyone allowed into vets with their pet?

135 replies

freedomontheway · 27/05/2021 15:18

My elderly pooch is slowing down somewhat. She has a slight mitral valve prolapse and I'm guessing it's worsening. She's not uncomfortable as such just struggling on walks a little.
My vets has a blanket ban on owners going in with their pets to the surgery due to Covid
They explain that they don't have adequate ventilation in the room.
I've asked what they will do about this and they don't seem to have a plan except to keep owners out for the foreseeable future.
What are other people's vets doing?

OP posts:

Borris · 27/05/2021 21:54

It is impossible for staff to social distance within the practice and so one case means the practice closes.
We do not have enough staff to work in teams
Can your hairdresser or dentist do your hair/teeth without you present? No, but we can treat your pet effectively without you there.
Our consult rooms are only about 2mx2m so cannot distance in them.
Can't open windows in case animals escape
Our staff costs have gone up as we now need 2 staff members to examine and treat each pet. Previously owners would normally hold their pets for examination.

FWIW I can't wait for owners to come back in. I do 1000s of steps each day trotting in and out. I'm sick of standing in the rain while a client opens their car window 1 inch to speak to me. I've developed shoulder pain from lugging cat boxes in and out and dogs yanking me back to their owners on the way out.

I'm hoping that next month all is back to normal and am really grateful to the majority of clients who have understood that this is not our ideal either.

justasking111 · 27/05/2021 22:30

Our old vet you had to stand outside in all weathers in the front yard waiting for pet, medicines and to pay, they sold out to a big group last year. Changes to independent vet hurrah they have a car park, you go into reception say you're there, back to the car. Someone takes pet in, brings them back. Then you have to go back into reception to get medicine and pay.

Fairtatas · 27/05/2021 22:58

One of the reasons owners are still not allowed in is the risk of close contact with multiple people every day, resulting in members of the team needing to self isolate. Many practices simply do not have the staff numbers to cope with multiple team members having to self isolate and still provide the necessary service to those really in need.

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 27/05/2021 23:24

But that's true of hundreds of jobs. And all sorts of bugs are out there, not just covid.

I had to have my cat put to sleep in the car park. It was horrific. The vet only complained that it was hard to hear me, through my crying and the rain, and having to wear a mask and not wind down the car window. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Case rates are so low now, even if you saw hundreds of people a day, in close proximity, with no distancing and no masks...
How long are vets planning to keep up the rigmarole?

landofgiants · 27/05/2021 23:27

We are not letting any humans in at our place, yet, and I fully support the decision. My practice (and many others) is small, poorly ventilated with no room for social distancing. We are also very busy, see lots of clients/animals a day and could be quickly closed down with contact tracing or if staff members start testing positive. Some staff members (myself included) have underlying health conditions, as do many of our clients. We are a tourist area and expect to be extra busy in the summer. Consulting in the carpark is not ideal for us either, it is more time consuming.

Other practices have different factors at play and may make different decisions on how to be covid safe. Having your hair cut is a completely different situation! It is not possible for the hairdresser to cut your hair without you present, whereas it is possible to examine your pet. The majority of pets are quite relaxed without their owners (which surprised me), some of them are actually better behaved! Sympathy to anyone who has said goodbye to their pet in less than ideal circumstances. Sorry for the rant.

Borris · 27/05/2021 23:30

But covid is the only bug that requires you and in contacts to isolate. If a local practice had to shut I know we wouldn't be able to manage their cases and vice versa.

FontyMcFontface · 27/05/2021 23:35

Ours are still collecting from the car. A fortnight ago I watched the dog in the car next to me put to sleep in the car park and the owners sitting on the tarmac sobbing with a dead dog between them.
It was horrific and I couldn’t believe they weren’t allowed inside for privacy when we are allowed in sodding pubs.

cocoloco987 · 27/05/2021 23:43

Our vets let's one person in to the waiting room while any others for later appointments wait outside. They don't let anyone in to examination room but I suspect my dog will behave better without me anyway so fine with that. They speak with you at a distance before and update you after in the waiting room. So still face to face advice which I far prefer. As an aside how do you know if your vet practice is corporate or independent? I got ddog last April right in the full swing of first lockdown so we ended up using the vet closest round the corner due to travel restrictions instead of the one I'd planed (university teaching hospital practice). They seem fine, especially as my only requirement currently is boosters and flea/worm treatment. University vets obviously really good but can be awkward to get to especially at times where traffic is an issue. I do have suspicions though as their puppy/ annual plans are from a different company and I know they don't deal with insurance companies directly so you have to pay up front then claim. Is this a sign they are corporate?

landofgiants · 27/05/2021 23:52

@ArchbishopOfBanterbury - Sorry for your loss.

I take your point re:local case rates, they are very low at the moment, however in my area, they are almost certainly about to go up due to an influx of tourists and second home owners. In answer to your question, I imagine that we will start letting people in again in the autumn, once the summer madness dies down. Different vets will be making different decisions.

The vast majority of our clients are great, however there is a very small minority who don't believe in masks and won't socially distance etc etc. I have a bad chest due to asthma and previous bouts of pneumonia (at least one of which was picked up at work), I have no desire for my breathing issues to get worse. Perhaps I should find a new job? Let the healthy get on with it?

landofgiants · 27/05/2021 23:58

@cocoloco987 - if there is a Pet Health Club type plan, then they are probably corporate owned. The insurance thing is quite common, as direct claims means a delay in getting paid and also there is more work involved in chasing up claims.

GingerFigs · 28/05/2021 00:15

@freedomontheway sorry to hear your wee pup is slowing down. I don't want to upset you so apologies if inappropriate but i used a private veterinary company recently, they came to the house when I had a dear pet put to sleep. I couldn't bear a car park handover and knew they would be happier at home. Pm me if you'd like the details x

Mrsmophead · 28/05/2021 00:36

My vets is part of a large chain. One vet has throughout insisted you come in with your pet to the waiting area, obviously with a mask. The other nearly choked my dog pulling his lead when he didn't want to leave me. Even the one vet practice doesn't have streamlined rules!
You can imagine which vet I ask for!

Mrsmophead · 28/05/2021 00:37

The vets try to treat in the waiting area where possible (no other customers are in anyway).

cocoloco987 · 28/05/2021 05:43

@landofgiants on closer inspection of the website I see that it is in fact owned by CVS. It's a small 2 venue practice with the names of the founding vets so doesn't come across as corporate in the way vets for pets etc does. Re the insurance, it is a little annoying as I deliberately picked a policy that is one of the few that can be accepted by vets for direct pay, and one with zero excess in the hope I wouldn't be landed with a hefty bill. I might just get vacs and worm/flea done with the local vet for convenience as it's just round the corner, but use the university vets for anything medical

cupsofcoffee · 28/05/2021 05:57

For ours it depends.

If the dog is just going in for routine surgery or vaccinations etc. then they're handed over at the door and you pay by card or over the phone afterwards.

However they are letting people in if it's serious (eg in a PTS scenario) or if the dog is very nervous etc.

CurryLeaves · 28/05/2021 06:02

Took mine in on Monday for their vaccinations. We all have to wait in a line on the pavement and the vet nurse takes the animals in and then brings the card machine outside. When my colleague's cat was put to sleep they took him from her in the carpark while she waited outside. It was devastating.

We have an elderly dog who is probably weeks away from having to have that decision made for him, and DH will not even take him to the vet because he could not bear to not be able to be with him if they have to put him to sleep.

chocolateorangeinhaler · 28/05/2021 06:29

A mask at mine but you have to wait outside until the vet comes out and calls you both in.
If they wouldn't let you in with the animal I would move all my business away from them.

OldTinHat · 28/05/2021 06:36

My beautiful boy had to be pts last month. They took him in to do the prep and then let me go in and hold him as he went. Small room, two vets and me.

TimeForLunch · 28/05/2021 06:43

Ours have let me go in with the cats throughout. I've taken the kids too as they help me manage the two of them which can be a bit tricky when they both need to go at the same time! No disruption to routine services at all for which I have been very grateful, hearing about how restricted others have been and, for god knows what reason, still are. Only change has been adults wearing masks.

CurryLeaves · 28/05/2021 06:52

@OldTinHat

My beautiful boy had to be pts last month. They took him in to do the prep and then let me go in and hold him as he went. Small room, two vets and me.

Oh I am glad to hear that you were able to be there.

Sparklingwine1 · 28/05/2021 06:59

Ours are collecting pets from the car park, unless it is something like PTS and then I believe the owners are allowed in.

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 28/05/2021 07:08

Blimey. Do vets believe covid is Ebola or something??

Majority vaxxed. These ultra cautious policies sound ridiculously ott.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 28/05/2021 07:24

Ours has just started letting in one person for routine examinations.

We had to have our cat PTS a few months ago. One person only allowed in then. It was pretty shit TBH.

Now that pubs and restaurants are open for inside service, I think vets needs to relax a bit. Waiting staff are working where unmasked people are eating and drinking, different ones each day, so I cannot understand why some vets are still keeping owners out.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 28/05/2021 08:45

I changed to a vet that comes to the house. I refuse to not be there when they need me.

Elieza · 28/05/2021 08:53

Our vets for pets has two waiting rooms and two treatment rooms. You discuss the issue in the waiting room, the vet takes the pet into the treatment room and brings him/her back to the waiting room after. So two patients/owners in the building (separated) at any one time.

You are allowed in the treatment room only to have your pet put to sleep.

My pals independent vet discusses the pet’s problem and takes the pet from you in the car park and brings it out again after treatment.

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