Covid-19 Update Why are some appointments booked so far ahead? Our vet practices are extremely busy at the moment because of an increase in pet ownership and a shortage of team members due to Brexit and Covid. Because of this we may have to book appointments a few weeks in advance. How has COVID-19 changed veterinary appointments? Your appointment will be quite different if you haven’t visited us since the start of the COVID19 pandemic. In some cases you may not be allowed to enter the building, but we can talk to you, see you pet to ensure they get what you need and deal with any concerns. Please follow all the instructions given to you prior to, and during, your visit. This will ensure any procedures are done as safely as possible for you and our teams. Remember, do not come to the practice if you have Covid19 symptoms or are self-isolating/quarantined, please call instead, so we can still help you and your pet/animal. Do I need to wear a face covering when I visit the practice? Yes, we would like for people to continue to wear face coverings when entering our practice. We want to protect you and our team as best we can. Please ensure you bring your own face covering with you when you attend your appointment. We have strict social distancing rules in place to keep everyone safe, so please follow all the instructions our team give you. If you are unable to wear a face covering please let our team know before your appointment. Where that is the case you may be unable to enter the premises so that we ensure the health and safety of our team, but we have made adjustments to ensure we can still care for your pet/animal. Vaccinations Can I bring my pet in for their annual vaccination booster? Yes. We are performing vaccinations and we believe them to be a very important part of looking after your pet. There may be some delays in bookings due to the effects of the current COVID19 pandemic. Please don’t worry if, due to the pandemic, you are delayed in booking your pets’ booster this year, we can help you get back on track. If you call the practice, we will be able to book the vaccination at an appropriate time. Your appointment may be quite different to previous occasions so please follow all the instructions given to you prior to, and during, your visit with your pet. This will ensure any procedures are done as safely as possible for you and our teams. Can I bring my dog in for a kennel cough vaccine? Yes. We are undertaking kennel cough vaccines in dogs in most cases,. If you call the practice, we will be able to discuss this and organise an appropriate time. Sometimes this will be given at the same time as the annual vaccinations. Your appointment may be quite different to previous occasions so please follow all the instructions given to you prior to, and during, your visit with your pet. This will ensure any procedures are done as safely as possible for you and our teams. Can I bring my pet in for an initial vaccination course? Yes. We are able to see puppies and kittens for their vaccinations. If you call the practice, we will be able to book in your puppy or kitten for its vaccinations at an appropriate time. As normal, we would recommend that puppies and kittens should be kept in your home and garden until after their second vaccination, so they aren’t exposed to infections we worry about. Your appointment may be quite different to previous occasions so please follow all the instructions given to you prior to, and during, your visit with your pet. This will ensure any procedures are done as safely as possible for you and our teams. Routine appointments Can I bring in my pet for a routine health check? Yes, though in some cases we may ask that routine health checks at the practice are delayed slightly. So, depending on availability, we may on occasion recommend conducting a health check via a video or telephone consultation, answering any questions you have. We can also prescribe medications if needed. Please get in touch and we can work out what is best for you and your pet/animal. Can I bring my pet in for nail clips or to have their anal glands expressed? Yes. though in some cases we may ask that nail clips/anal gland appointments at the practice are delayed slightly. Please get in touch and we can work out what is best for you and your pet/animal. Emergencies What if it is an emergency? Please continue to contact us in an emergency. Please call the practice as you usually would, and we will organise for you or someone else to bring them to the practice so we can care for them. We have some social distancing regulations in place at our premises and we will need you to follow our instructions to keep everyone safe. Food and medication Can I get my repeat food orders or medicines for my pet? Yes. It is important that you continue to give your pet/animal the appropriate food and medication and we will help make sure your pet gets what they need. It would be a good idea to give at least 7 days’ notice of your requirements to ensure we can get them to you when you need them. You don’t need to order extra during times of lockdown. Please contact your practice to make suitable arrangements. In some cases, we will need to have a consultation to review your pet before we can give you more medications, which may be in person or via telephone or video. We will guide you through this process and make sure your pet gets what they need. Can I get my flea, worms, tick, and flystrike treatments? Yes. It is important that you continue to give your pet the appropriate treatments and we will help make sure your pet receives them. It would be a good idea to give at least 7 days’ notice of your requirements to ensure we can get them to you when you need them. You don’t need to order extra during lockdown periods. Please contact your practice to make suitable arrangements. Operations and blood tests Can my pet still have planned operations e.g. neutering? Yes. We are now neutering rabbits, cats and dogs in most cases. There may be some delays in bookings due to the COVID-19 but please contact us so we can make appropriate arrangements. Can my pet still have emergency operations? Absolutely! If your pet needs to see us in an emergency, then we will see them at the practice and if they need an operation, we can do this. What about ultrasounds and blood tests? The majority of procedures, when needed, can be performed as usual. Your practice will explain to you what is being recommended for your pet and can discuss any concerns you may have. Your practice is here to support you and your pet. Please contact your practice via phone or email if you are worried about these changes. As healthcare professionals we appreciate your ongoing support and understanding during these difficult times. Pets and Covid-19 Can my pet give me COVID19? Research on this topic is still ongoing but currently there is no evidence that pets are involved in the spread of COVID19 virus to humans. The biggest risk to you is another person with the virus so you need to follow the government recommendations of social distancing, washing your hands and wearing a mask as per the current guidelines. We advise that you wash your hands before and after playing with and feeding your pets, and that you also practice good hygiene measures when handling anyone else’s pet. Can animals get infected with COVID19 virus? A small number of pet cats have been diagnosed with the COVID19 virus or its and research on this is still ongoing. Currently these are rare, isolated cases. A very small number of animals have tested positive for the virus following contact with a person with COVID19. Current evidence does not suggest that pets contribute to the spread of the virus in people. . It is sensible to wash your hands before and after handling them to keep yourself safe. How do I care for my pet if I have or think I have COVID19? Reduce the amount of contact with your pet(s) as much as possible by getting someone else your household, if possible, to look after them for you. Wash your hands before and after any interaction with them and wear a face mask if possible. If possible, keep your cat indoors but only if they are happy to be kept inside. If you have a dog, try and find a friend or neighbour to exercise them for you as you can’t go out. Please make sure they practise good hand hygiene before and after touching your dog, and ensure they have no direct contact with you. If your pet gets ill for any reason whilst you are unwell, please call the practice for advice. We will be able to help you and your pet in the most appropriate way. Signed by: Dr Rachel Dean BVMS PhD MSc(EBHC) DSAM(fel) SFHEA MRCVS, Director of Clinical Research and Excellence in Practice Tim Shearman BSc BVMS CertVC MRCVS, Director of Regulatory & Professional Affairs Updated July 20th, 2021 01904 202 228 English Contact us Modern Slavery Statement UK Tax Strategy COVID-19 Policy Terms & Conditions Privacy & Cookies Policy COVID 19-FAQs Gender Pay Gap Report Registered Office: Spitfire House, Aviator Court, York YO30 4UZ Registered in England & Wales No 10026837. © VetPartners 2021 X We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. Read MoreCookie settingsRejectAccept