Dogs and cats do not carry COVID-19, but their owners might, and that has changed how veterinary clinics meet clients and do business.
“We stopped having people bring their animals into the hospital,” said Dr. Willard Gould, who was quarantined in place upon his return from Florida and guiding his veterinary business from home.
The new protocol at area clinics is for mask-wearing, veterinary technicians to walk out into the parking lot to the cars, where they converse at a safe distance, then retrieve the pet from its owner, then walk or carry it into the office.
Case history is taken over the phone ahead of time. Once the pet comes in, clients wait in their vehicles as if it were a 1950s burger joint and dinner was about to be delivered on roller skates and hooked to their driver-side door. Instead, the cell phone rings and it’s a doctor sharing the results of an examination discussing options. Eventually, the tech brings back the pet and any prescriptions.
Some clinics are replacing leashes with their own before walking dogs into their clinics, as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Most primary care vets are trying to do what they can at this time for their clients because of higher costs and a lack of relationship. Every clinic still open is doing things its own way, and trying to make do given its own unique circumstances.
Some clinics are not accepting anyone but established clients. Mattapoisett Animal Hospital is among those that are, but not providing all regular services.
“We’ve canceled elective things that are not emergencies. ‘Let’s see your five-year-old dog who is well and is vaccinated every year and is due for an examination.’ We’re putting that off,” said Gould, the founder at Mattapoisett.
The reason is simple and pragmatic: lack of equipment.
“Dogs and cats that are young and ready to be spayed or neutered – we’ve had to put that off because… we’re not going to be able to buy any new gloves,” he said. “Things like tumors, exploratory surgery, animals with higher priority… If your dog gets sick and dies because we didn’t have any gloves.”
And there is no realistic chance of getting more gloves anytime soon.
“Who knows when this is going to end? This is probably going to be a problem for anywhere from three to 18 months,” said Gould. “When it comes down to who’s going to get surgery masks first, us or Mass General, it’s not even a question. The main thing is we don’t want to get anyone sick.”
To that end, Gould has cut his staff to eliminate those in vulnerable categories age-wise or with preexisting conditions. One of his vet techs is 74 years old and Gould is 71.
“Two of the people have autoimmune diseases,” he explained. “One has chronic Lyme (disease); a good day is fighting everything. Another one has an immuno-suppressed child so if she went to work and brought something home…”
Younger, healthier staff members are working overtime, and Gould wonders if that stress makes them vulnerable.
When lifting a large dog onto a medical table or drawing its blood, social distancing (standing six feet apart) becomes impossible.
One Cape-side clinic divided its staff into two teams that work all of its shifts together. That way, if a staff member is sick and tests positive for coronavirus, it hopefully limits the potential for infection to that side of the staff.
It’s become a game of coping and surviving until everyone can get back to thriving.
“I think it’s important for people to know that we’re all in this thing together,” said Gould. “You’re not getting rich; people aren’t calling your name. You just do what you do because you love it.”
By Mick Colageo