Hello all you wonderful horse, pet, and production animal owners out there!
Emergency Basis Only, or
#Don’tBreakYourVet !
Most of your veterinarians are still allowed to practice and will remain available to you and your beloved animals ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS ONLY.
We are willing to risk our own health (though we should all be wearing mask, gloves, etc.) for the health of your lovelies. It is, as you are no doubt aware, not without risk to us.
As the incubation period is so long and the symptoms so variable, what you think was a little “cold” could actually be a case of COVID-19. I don’t want it and have no desire to infect my family. I have a heart condition and it would not be in my best interest to catch the dratted virus.
Please comply with your vets if they request you to wear a mask yourself and keep your distance if at all possible. If they want you to leave the animal with their staff while it is treated, or ask you to let them handle your horse themselves, please do so. We’re all under enough stress anyway, ALL people here. Maybe help get your horse into the stocks and let them work on the horses on their own. Please help them to help you and your animals.
I know all of my beyond-lovely clients will be happy do this for me.
HOWEVER…..
What’s an Emergency?
Clearly it’s not been made obvious to some. Some of the phone calls I’ve received have…. been… interesting. Mostly from new clients… such as:
requests for:
… routine dentistry, (as the owner will be off work for the next few weeks), or
…doing a pre-purchase examination, (never truly an ER)
… routine vaccinations… especially overdue ones…
…any other sort of routine vet procedures you could have scheduled several months ago that you want done now that you have time at home from work…
Lockdown = QUARANTINE…
THIS LOCKDOWN IS MEANT TO BE A QUARANTINE, NOT A HOLIDAY! Enjoy it at home with your family, but don’t needlessly infect others!
They are the things you’d call us for on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, despite the emergency call fee, etc.
Things that could limit the lives of your horse or that if not treated now, will create pain and suffering for your beasties.
However…
LET THIS NOT PREVENT YOU from calling us if you THINK it might be an emergency. Or if you’re not sure. Even a little. Personally, I am HAPPY to field phone calls and look at a photo you take with your phone.
If it’s a colic, laceration, lameness, respiratory difficulty, the old horse who’s suddenly come to the end of his tether, or anything else causing you and them any distress, etc., for god’s sake, PLEASE be sure to ring.
This might be a good guide….
If i get sick (or dead) from treating your non-emergency cases, I won’t be around to treat your beloved horse or other animal life-threatening emergencies.
The phone is your friend. 🙂 When it works. There’s always Facebook. xx
xx
L