Your health is just as important to us as your pets, so in this uncertain time we wanted to let you know what we are doing at the clinic to minimize exposure and transmission of the novel coronavirus or any other disease. We are taking reasonable measures to err on the side of caution, as expressed through CDC recommendations.
Recommendations are changing daily so please be patient with us as we navigate these new developments. We want to continue serving you and your pets and keep everyone safe. We will keep updating you on any changes to clinic hours and accessibility as we continue.
- ALL clients will receive curbside service ONLY on Saturdays—
We are trying to follow CDC recommendations to support social distancing and to not have large gatherings of people (i.e. over 10 people in waiting room.) and Saturdays are high volume and often see a large amount of the public in the waiting room. So we want to start incorporating this policy for Saturdays only currently. As regulations change we may need to continue this during the week, or hopefully it will resolve soon where no restrictions will be necessary.
ALL appointments, surgeries, food and prescription requests, and boarding patients will be handled in a low contact, curbside service. When you arrive at the clinic, please remain in your vehicle and give the office a call (620) 792-2551. We will then facilitate checking you in and then a staff member will come get your pet. We will evaluate, complete exam, vaccinations, and or procedures, then return your pet to your car. If we need more discussion, we can contact you to be ushered into an exam room if warranted.
We will also facilitate bringing out food, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, medications or any other needs, to your vehicle. We will also retrieve or deliver pets that will be involved with boarding.
We can accept cash, check, payment in person, or credit card over the phone.
At this time, we will continue normal appointments and business hours during the week, and will attempt adding more time to each appointment to lessen the volume of public. This may change, so please be patient with us.
- Increased cleaning standards—
Staff has been instructed to increase our frequency of disinfecting during the day-to-day process. We have a very clean facility, but we will be thoroughly and frequently disinfecting hard surfaces/door knobs/credit card machine surface/etc. throughout the clinic. Staff is instructed to wash their hands between every client and pet interaction. If any employees have respiratory symptoms or fever they will be staying home.
- If you would rather stay home
If your pet is in good health and you would like to postpone an appointment that is fine. Be sure your pet will not be overdue for their rabies vaccination. We truly want to keep your pets protected from a fatal disease and keep them safe and legal.
- Refills—Food, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, medications—
If you need food, prescription refills, or flea/tick/heartworm prevention please give us a call. We accept payment over the phone and payment in person and can deliver these goods out to your vehicle or have them ready for pick up.
- FOR YOUR SAFETY—
If you have recently been ill, had a fever or new onset of coughing, you have been in close contact with a person showing signs of illness or have a suspected case of COVID-19, don’t feel well, or have traveled to an impacted area (U.S. or international) we ask you consider to reschedule your appointment, have someone you know bring in the pet, or take advantage of our curbside service.
- We will continue to accept drop off appointments.
We appreciate each one of you and we want to be able to help you and your pets, through COVID-19 and for many, many years to come. We appreciate your trust in us and hope that will remain even if we are not too physically close when we work on your pets.
Thank you for your understanding and patience at this time.
If you have any questions, please call (620)-792-2551. You may also visit the CDC’s website for additional COVID-19 information and updates.
In relation to your pets, although 3 dogs in China tested “weak positive” for the COVID-19 virus, these patients have been quarantined and have not shown any sign of disease. Continued testing is being done to decide if it is an active issue. IDEXX has been developing and testing canine and feline specimens for COVID-19 and among thousands of samples they have seen no positive results. Considering all the information thus far, experts across international human and animal health organizations (CDC, WHO, etc.) agree there is no evidence to indicate pets can spread COVID-19 to other animals or humans.
As a precaution it is recommended that those ill with COVID-19 limit contact with animals. It is recommended that a family member or friend take care of needs of the pet, don’t share food, kiss, hug, or have face contact and wash your hands before and after contact with your pet.
If you are not ill interact with your pet normally, but reduce face to face contact, wash hands regularly, clean food and water bowls, bedding, etc.
For responsible pet owners, preparing in advance is key. Make sure to have an emergency kit prepared, have food and litter on hand, make sure you have plenty of medications on hand in case of self-isolation or you cannot leave your home.
We will keep you up-to-date with any new developments as we hear them. Please stay safe, be smart, stay calm, and be patient and supportive of each other. WE will all get through this and be stronger on the other side.