Are you allowed in at your vet practice?

furryfriends (TEAS)

furryfriends (TEAS)

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Director at TEAS (East Hunsbury) Northampton
We are still not allowed into the practice and this is proving very difficult, especially as I take a number of guinea pigs, at a time. It’s far too cold to wait outside now, especially as I’m sometimes waiting for a few hours. I’m now dropping them off, returning home and going back once I’m called to say they’re ready, but this is far from ideal. I just wondered what proportion of practices are still operating a locked door policy?
 
I’m in tier 2 in Essex and I can go in my vets as long as I am wearing a mask and there are not many people in the waiting room. ( so everyone is socially distancing). Screen is in place around reception.In the vets surgery they have a screen around the examining table. Vet wears gown,mask,visor. So all is ok
 
I am in Switzerland (so not fully relevant) and we can go in as long as we are wearing masks.
We are given an appointment time, and then wait in the car park until the receptionist calls to say the previous client has left and we can go in.
They seem to be allowing plenty of time for each appointment, so I have never had to wait more than a few minutes.

Our specialist vets (a much larger practice) has multiple waiting rooms on different floors, so on arrival you told what floor and waiting room to go to, and they try to make sure no more than 2 people are in a waiting room at any time.

At both places they ask only one person brings the animal in, except in the case of euthanasia.
 
I've been able to go into the consult room since July. I am incredibly grateful for the way my vets have dealt with the pandemic, they've really done a great job ensuring everything is done safely while keeping owners in the loop with the animals care. While I appreciate the need to be careful, I hated not being able to go in with them. Even when we could go in but had to sit in the waiting room while they were examined was better than having to sit in the car.
 
We’re allowed in our practice too if we’re wearing a mask but not allowed in the room during the appointment. Must be hard not to be able to go in with them like you said!
 
We are still having to stand outside with a mask on. I went three times last week and it was freezing!
(tier 2)
 
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Still not allowed to go in as they have very strict bubble rules, even among employees as they work in pairs only.
I pop heated pad in the carrier and put cuddly sacks for my piggie to keep warm and keep the engine running until we're called to drop him. I drop them at the door and have quick chat (masks and distance) and they take them in without me. I wait in the car most of the time, as car park is just outside the practice. Then they come out to return them and carrier goes back in the heated car. Vet usually comes few minutes later to drop off meds/have chat....
We're on the border or tier 2 and 3. But they've been operating like this since beginning.

This crossed my mind- how safe it is to keep snugglesafe in a carrier with a piggie if I had an accident! They're heavy and basically bricks. Do you guys use them?
 
We are in Tier 3 and have to queue outside until our appointment time (you can wait in your car and they will call you) then we are allowed into the practice and into the consulting room. There is a plastic screen across the consulting room and you hand your pet around the end of it to the vet nurse.
 
I think if I was only taking one pet, occasionally, it wouldn't be such an issue, but some weeks I am there four days a week and it is becoming so difficult. Everything is conducted over the phone too, which I am finding very hard, as I am much better talking face to face with someone and them being able to show me what they are talking about.

They did have to let me in with my cat, after they tried to see her without me there and she was so frightened that she went straight in for the attack. They said she was absolutely terrified and they couldn't get near her.
 
My vets does handing over the pet in the car park. The vet comes out to ask you for information and takes animals inside for examination and treatment. We can go in one at a time to the office at the other end of the building for paying. It was very cold waiting today even in my car and only a short wait for one piggy to be seen. It must be very frustrating with so many for you to deal with and not being able to speak face to face even outdoors. I hope this will be able to improve soon along with everything else we wish was normal! I suppose it all depends on the shapes and sizes of waiting rooms etc as to whether individual practices are able to safely allow customers inside, but I do appreciate our vets coming out to talk in the car park.
 
We are tier 3 and out local vets still have a closed door policy. It’s the same when I travel to Northampton to the cat and rabbit clinic but I’m not sure what tier Northampton is in but I need to find out as I will be there on Friday. The only thing I can say in the vets defence is that the last time I visited (early November) I was (unbeknownst to me) covid positive and could have infected them all but, with the closed door policy that risk was greatly reduced thank goodness. It’s not easy not being with your pets when they need to see the vet and like you, I hate the telephone conversations - face to face is much better. But hopefully it won’t be for much longer - another six months may see things getting back to some sort of normality - I hope you can last that long.
 
KathT said:
We are tier 3 and out local vets still have a closed door policy. It’s the same when I travel to Northampton to the cat and rabbit clinic but I’m not sure what tier Northampton is in but I need to find out as I will be there on Friday. The only thing I can say in the vets defence is that the last time I visited (early November) I was (unbeknownst to me) covid positive and could have infected them all but, with the closed door policy that risk was greatly reduced thank goodness. It’s not easy not being with your pets when they need to see the vet and like you, I hate the telephone conversations - face to face is much better. But hopefully it won’t be for much longer - another six months may see things getting back to some sort of normality - I hope you can last that long.
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Northampton is currently in Tier 2. Yes, it's very hard and like you say, without the locked door policy you could potentially have infected them all. However, the RCVS does say that as long as they are wearing full PPE, then they won't have to self isolate, if identified as a contact of someone who tests positive. I would be more than happy not to go into the consult room, but to go into the waiting room (which is huge at Cat and Rabbit Clinic) and then speak face to face with Simon or Kim, at a distance. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before we can go in. My phone logs my location and where I am and how long I am there. I was tempted to add up how many hours I spend sat outside the vets, but decided it would just depress me even more, if I did! ha ha!
 
I am allowed into the waiting area at my vets (wearing mask). The vet comes and talks to you (at 2m distance wearing mask) about what is wrong. You then pass your guinea pig in the carrier (having moved to a safe distance of 2m) and then piggy is taken into the Consultation Room and examined. A video/photograph is taken of any procedure/anything found that has been done. Vet comes out of Consultation Room, passes piggy back in carrrier (at a safe 2m distance) and shows you video/photograph and has a word about what has been found/done and any meds piggy needs, how much, how often etc. You then pay the Receptionist where there are screens up and Receptionists are in face masks. The Consultation Rooms are too small to have vet + vet nurse + owner in. Still it's better than waiting outside in the car. We are in Tier 2 here.
 
We are Tier 2. We wait outside in our cars and phone to let reception know we have arrived. The vet comes out to call us in when they are ready. I’m allowed in (mask and sanitizer required) and allowed into the consult room. There’s a plastic screen suspended above the exam table to keep distance between owner & the vet. The vet wears apron, gloves, mask & visor.
The staff have screens around the desk and Payment is preferred by phone but can be made at the desk. All staff are wearing masks, aprons and visors.
 
Betsy said:
I am allowed into the waiting area at my vets (wearing mask). The vet comes and talks to you (at 2m distance wearing mask) about what is wrong. You then pass your guinea pig in the carrier (having moved to a safe distance of 2m) and then piggy is taken into the Consultation Room and examined. A video/photograph is taken of any procedure/anything found that has been done. Vet comes out of Consultation Room, passes piggy back in carrrier (at a safe 2m distance) and shows you video/photograph and has a word about what has been found/done and any meds piggy needs, how much, how often etc. You then pay the Receptionist where there are screens up and Receptionists are in face masks. The Consultation Rooms are too small to have vet + vet nurse + owner in. Still it's better than waiting outside in the car. We are in Tier 2 here.
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That sounds a really good compromise! x
 
Hath said:
Still not allowed to go in as they have very strict bubble rules, even among employees as they work in pairs only.
I pop heated pad in the carrier and put cuddly sacks for my piggie to keep warm and keep the engine running until we're called to drop him. I drop them at the door and have quick chat (masks and distance) and they take them in without me. I wait in the car most of the time, as car park is just outside the practice. Then they come out to return them and carrier goes back in the heated car. Vet usually comes few minutes later to drop off meds/have chat....
We're on the border or tier 2 and 3. But they've been operating like this since beginning.

This crossed my mind- how safe it is to keep snugglesafe in a carrier with a piggie if I had an accident! They're heavy and basically bricks. Do you guys use them?
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I hadn't really thought about that, but maybe take it out when the car is moving, as you will have heater on and it's warm.
 
We have to phone reception when we arrive, hand over in the car park wearing a mask, have a telephone consultation with the vet before and after piggie is examined.
It was freezing cold on Friday night and in the dark the vet handed over the meds, if it had been in the consulting room I'd have noticed he was giving me cat Metacam and requested dog and at a higher and more frequent dosage. Luckily I have dog Metacam and a dosage by weight chart and can sort this out myself. I'm surprised we still have to have car park consultations. I know we are in tier 3 but we don't have to get our tattoos or haircuts outside on the pavement. I am grateful I could get Red seen so quickly though and onto antibiotics, several vet practises here have not reopened at all or are not taking on any new patients.
I don't use a Snugglesafe in the carrier when we are moving @Hath . I take one with me wrapped in a towel to keep it warm in case we have to wait outside for a long time and the car cools down a lot.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Northampton is currently in Tier 2. Yes, it's very hard and like you say, without the locked door policy you could potentially have infected them all. However, the RCVS does say that as long as they are wearing full PPE, then they won't have to self isolate, if identified as a contact of someone who tests positive. I would be more than happy not to go into the consult room, but to go into the waiting room (which is huge at Cat and Rabbit Clinic) and then speak face to face with Simon or Kim, at a distance. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before we can go in. My phone logs my location and where I am and how long I am there. I was tempted to add up how many hours I spend sat outside the vets, but decided it would just depress me even more, if I did! ha ha!
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Thanks for letting me know the tier - I shouldn’t be moving into a lower tier but I think I’m allowed for vet visits. It will be a long day for me as I can’t really drive home as it will already be a three hour round trip and I don’t fancy driving an extra three hours on top to return home and back again! As we’ve recently had covid I know we’re now not infectious but will stick rigidly to the guidelines - not that I flout them usually! I will be glad when all this madness is over!
 
KathT said:
Thanks for letting me know the tier - I shouldn’t be moving into a lower tier but I think I’m allowed for vet visits. It will be a long day for me as I can’t really drive home as it will already be a three hour round trip and I don’t fancy driving an extra three hours on top to return home and back again! As we’ve recently had covid I know we’re now not infectious but will stick rigidly to the guidelines - not that I flout them usually! I will be glad when all this madness is over!
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Yes you are allowed to travel for medical reasons, for humans and animals, so not a problem driving to a lower tier! I can't wait for some normality in life again x
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
We are still not allowed into the practice and this is proving very difficult, especially as I take a number of guinea pigs, at a time. It’s far too cold to wait outside now, especially as I’m sometimes waiting for a few hours. I’m now dropping them off, returning home and going back once I’m called to say they’re ready, but this is far from ideal. I just wondered what proportion of practices are still operating a locked door policy?
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I’m in the US (Georgia to be exact) my vet is still not allowing anyone inside,it’s drop off and pick up only
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Northampton is currently in Tier 2. Yes, it's very hard and like you say, without the locked door policy you could potentially have infected them all. However, the RCVS does say that as long as they are wearing full PPE, then they won't have to self isolate, if identified as a contact of someone who tests positive. I would be more than happy not to go into the consult room, but to go into the waiting room (which is huge at Cat and Rabbit Clinic) and then speak face to face with Simon or Kim, at a distance. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before we can go in. My phone logs my location and where I am and how long I am there. I was tempted to add up how many hours I spend sat outside the vets, but decided it would just depress me even more, if I did! ha ha!
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What are all the tiers people are referring to?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Are most of the vets operating a locked door policy in the USA, or are some letting you in? x
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Some places are letting you in but I think it varies,my roommates have been inside their “normal” vet (dog and cat vet) several times for their senior basset who just recently passed and they let her in just fine even let her be there when he was being put to sleep. They do have the mask policy and distance policy,I’m pretty sure they have a smaller capacity for the lobby now as well.
 
Down here in Hampshire with my vet, you have to ring when you get there. You also let them know what is wrong and wait til they phone to let you know to pop your piggie into the porch. The vet phones you afterwards to talk to you about your piggie and what the solution is the problem. Payment is taken over the phone and your pet is returned to you.
I can understand the tier system but its more stressful, especially at times when you have painful choices to make and would like a chance to say goodbye.
 
My vet here allows 1 person at a time into reception.
We phone on arrival and then get a call back to say when we come in.
The vet sits at a distance and we talk before piggy is taken into the consulting room.
Piggy returned in due course and vet explains the results.
Payment can be made in person.

It seems to depend on how much space a surgery has whether they can allow clients into a waiting area.
 
My vets are still not allowing anyone inside but have a lovely big car park right up to the front door. The vet comes out to collect your pet and chat about what's wrong then takes it inside to examine and brings it back and chats about their findings. I am very happy about this arrangement. Now it's winter I take two snuggle saves with me. One in the carrier with the pig and for me in case I have to wait a while!
 
One person is allowed into the waiting room. The vet seems to sit on the floor whilst you chat them through before and after. it’s a large waiting room though.
 
We still can't go inside our exotic vet office; I live in Indiana. They call you once they pick up your pet and find out what is going on and then the vet calls you after the exam. They only allow people in for at home care demonstrations or end of life (they allow only 2 people in then).

I haven't made an appointment for my two piggies yet since we just adopted them in July.
 
My practice currently still has clients wait in the car park. We come out and discuss with them before bringing the animal in and the vet going out once the exam has taken place. I work at an independent practice tho and our staff numbers r much smaller than practices whom are joined (for example let’s say Vets4Pets). If one of us was to fall ill we’d likely have to shut the whole practice down. So for the moment we are keeping it like this. Though I promise any animals that are currently being bought in and taken off of owners are being treated as if they’re our own- especially da piggies!
 
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