Are you allowed in at your vet practice?

Wait outside in the car park and the vet comes out and collects them. We're in tier 2.
 
Tier 3 . .last time i/we went was in lockdown.
Car park rang reception and vet came. . We all went to a quiet section of the building and was fine. . . It was quiet that day so perhaps I was allowed in.
Big point here is I write down questions to ask. In case which I always do forget to ask.
If you do this remember to write neat etc. My notes were very let's say emmm poor English and spelling . . Last time Sheryl the vet took Mrs Dougal for a scan and the rough note. . . Lol.
Paid over phone when we returned home.
 
It was the first time I took a piggy to a vet since the pandemic started. We went to our local vet, which is by appointment only. They had a doorbell/speaker at the door to announce I was there for an appointment. Then I had to wait for the vet to go outside, at the parking lot, then vet had a chat with me about the problem and looked at Rocky. She then took him inside for further inspection. I think I had to wait for around 30mins, more or less, for her to bring back Rocky with all the meds and explained to me what she found and all other instructions. Obviously everyone was wearing a mask. Payment was by phoning them after. I think overall the process were good coz we still managed to have a chat face to face with the vet. I think only special cases can the owner get inside the practice. Loads of clients were in the parking lot, either waiting for an appointment or picking up prescriptions.
 
I understand why they're doing it. I mean, they're second in line to step in if things get bad at nhs and my practice have many self isolating or off with covid. So reducing risk of catching /passing it is essential.
I mean, nothing makes sense anymore. I've had two dental check ups during the covid, yet can't get seen by my GP. You can't get any closer to my mouth than a dentist who's wearing the same PPE as my vet who I stay away and I wear a mask when talking to her/him...
 
I just hope that it won't be too long before things get back to some sort of normality. I do wish we could have face to face chat with the vets, rather than everything being conducted over the phone. However, with it being so cold now, it wouldn't be good for the staff to keep going from a warm practice, to a freezing cold outside. It's horrendous sitting outside in freezing temperatures, but more dangerous to keep going from warm to cold. I would cope so much better if I was just taking one pet, and probably only going occasionally, but I am there several times, most weeks. During the summer, I would go walking, or sit in the car doing coursework, but as my appointments are always later in the day, it's dark and cold and going home is definitely the best choice. I've noticed that lots of clients are leaving their engine running, while they wait, but this isn't good for the car or the environment. I do worry about those who get a taxi to the practice, and are often elderly, and then haven't got a car to wait in. I felt awful seeing an elderly lady waiting and wanted to invite her to sit in my car, but obviously couldn't.
 
Jesse's pigs said:
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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I have no concerns about how the pets are treated, and my practice were absolutely brilliant with my very anxious and scared cat, when she recently needed surgery and lots of appointments. They made what could have been a very difficult situation, as good as it could be! I will always be very thankful for that.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I have no concerns about how the pets are treated, and my practice were absolutely brilliant with my very anxious and scared cat, when she recently needed surgery and lots of appointments. They made what could have been a very difficult situation, as good as it could be! I will always be very thankful for that.
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Prea had surgery?! You must have been very worried hope she is ok now xx
 
Pound Shilling & Pig said:
Prea had surgery?! You must have been very worried hope she is ok now xx
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It was a very worrying few weeks. She was booked in for annual booster vaccination, and I worried whether she would cope, without me there. Unfortunately, as I feared would happen, she wouldn't let anyone near her and Simon said that she just went for them and they had to abandon as someone would've got hurt. He said to rearrange for the following week and they would let me in with her. However, just three days after that appointment, for some reason I can't explain (I must've subconsciously noticed something) I just reached out and felt deep into the left side of her neck. To my horror I felt a large lump (about the size of a golf ball). I immediately rang the vets, explained that I would need her to be seen, but that without me there they wouldn't be able to examine her. They were very good and asked me to go and pick up some Gabapentin, as it helps relax anxious cats and I took her in 90 mins after she'd had the medication. It really helped and she let Simon examine her. He initially tried her on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory and I took her back the following week. The lump hadn't changed at all and Simon got Kim to come and feel it too. It was clear they were both concerned it was sinister and they booked her in for the following Monday to have a biopsy, chest x-ray and bloods. The chest x-ray was clear, the bloods were all fine and Simon said the biopsy didn't look like anything he had seen before. He said it was a brown, waxy substance. The histology results took forever and I barely slept, as I was so worried. The results came back as necrotic tissue, so she was then booked in for the following week to have the lump removed. They were so good with her and allowed her to stay with me, in the car, before both surgeries, and only took her in when they were ready to start the op. Simon was able to remove the lump, in its entirety and the whole lump was sent off for histology. Simon said the op went very well, but he had to dissect the lump from the jugular vein. I was told she should rest and stay indoors for 10 days! Priya doesn't know the meaning of the word rest, but she was happy to just come outside with me and she didn't really leave my side. Another week of worry, waiting for the result of the histology, which thankfully identified it as a branchial cyst! Simon also vaccinated her, just after she came round from her op, so hopefully she won't need to see him again, until next year! 😊
 
Phew Debbie thank goodness it turned out so well for Priya ! You have such a way with piggies - the piggie whisperer - I’m not surprised Priya wouldn’t allow an examination ..... no wonder she wouldn’t leave your side - complete trust and love with you ! Thank you so much for all you do for piggies are everyone on TGPF
 
Roselina said:
Phew Debbie thank goodness it turned out so well for Priya ! You have such a way with piggies - the piggie whisperer - I’m not surprised Priya wouldn’t allow an examination ..... no wonder she wouldn’t leave your side - complete trust and love with you ! Thank you so much for all you do for piggies are everyone on TGPF
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Priya has been practicing social distancing all her life. If you aren't part of her household, keep 2 metres away! 😂 She takes her job, as guardian of the guinea pigs, very seriouisly and during the summer months, when the guinea pigs are out in the runs, in the garden, she patrols and sees off other cats, who dare to come near!
 
We are still in tier 3 but can go in as long as we wear a mask. But I regularly take Odin to your vets and wait in the car. I don’t mind the journey or wait as I know he’s in the best hands (but I only wait for 1 pig, not several :( )
 
Marvel_piggie_squad said:
We are still in tier 3 but can go in as long as we wear a mask. But I regularly take Odin to your vets and wait in the car. I don’t mind the journey or wait as I know he’s in the best hands (but I only wait for 1 pig, not several :( )
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It is taking several, at a time, that makes it so difficult, but now I come home again, it is better. I do wish we could be shown things though, rather than just have things explained over the phone. I couldn't feel Hudson's lump and kept asking to be shown where it was, but I just kept being told where it was. The fact I couldn't feel it, so therefore couldn't monitor it, made me feel useless and a really bad owner. I can't get that feeling out of my head, that I must be crap, because I was told it filled 1/5 of his abdomen. I'm cross with myself for not being more insistant.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
The fact I couldn't feel it, so therefore couldn't monitor it, made me feel useless and a really bad owner. I can't get that feeling out of my head, that I must be crap, because I was told it filled 1/5 of his abdomen.
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Bigger lumps can be much harder to feel that little ones were the edges are all under your fingertips. I’m not a vet but do palpation of all sorts of bits in the course of a day and it doesn’t follow that large lumps should be easy to find xx
 
Tigermoth said:
Bigger lumps can be much harder to feel that little ones were the edges are all under your fingertips. I’m not a vet but do palpation of all sorts of bits in the course of a day and it doesn’t follow that large lumps should be easy to find xx
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That's what Simon said to me. I have always got so involved in the care of the guinea pigs and have learnt such a lot, but feel so bad that I can't help them properly any more.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It is taking several, at a time, that makes it so difficult, but now I come home again, it is better. I do wish we could be shown things though, rather than just have things explained over the phone. I couldn't feel Hudson's lump and kept asking to be shown where it was, but I just kept being told where it was. The fact I couldn't feel it, so therefore couldn't monitor it, made me feel useless and a really bad owner. I can't get that feeling out of my head, that I must be crap, because I was told it filled 1/5 of his abdomen. I'm cross with myself for not being more insistant.
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Don’t be cross with yourself. You can only do what you can do, and at the end of the day those piggies in your care get the best care there is!
I know how you feel though, I constantly blame myself and question not doing enough with my two little guys that I’ve lost this year. I feel bad keep emailing C&R at every opportunity too (with questions about Odin); though they are very good at getting back to me.

I just wish I could meet Simon and Kim in person.
 
Marvel_piggie_squad said:
Don’t be cross with yourself. You can only do what you can do, and at the end of the day those piggies in your care get the best care there is!
I know how you feel though, I constantly blame myself and question not doing enough with my two little guys that I’ve lost this year. I feel bad keep emailing C&R at every opportunity too (with questions about Odin); though they are very good at getting back to me.

I just wish I could meet Simon and Kim in person.
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They are both great and hopefully you will get to meet them properly soon. If I had been insistant they would've definitely shown me where Hudson's lump was, but I felt like I was being a nuisance, as I know how busy they are and I already take up so much of their time with the TEAS piggies.
 
Debbie, no one does as much for sick piggies as you do please don't feel bad. Most of the piggies in your care wouldn't be alive today if not for what you do, and they certainly wouldn't have the quality of life they get. You work miracles for those little furries, having had a melt down this week myself caring for a sick animal (not the first time!) I know how hard looking after sick animals is on your emotions. The stress of wondering if you are doing enough, the right thing or if you good enough? You get all the stress multiplied with so many poorly ones at once, at times it's bound to get overwhelming but please don't doubt yourself.
 
Yes we can go into our vets and in the appointment too - just one person and only one in one out, but so pleased I could take Pumpkin in as he's had cheilitis and multiple visits in the last few weeks. I'd have been beside myself if he'd gone alone - you really don't get a full picture if you're not with them!
 
We are allowed into reception but not into the consult room, sometimes we don't even see a vet just a nurse who takes ppet off you then comes back and tells you what the vet has said, occasionally the vet pops out to discuss 💖
I'm still asking for phone consults where possible though as i do try to isolate/distance where possible 😂
 
I’m in tier 1 and I have to say I was very impressed with the whole Covid secure set up at my local vets yesterday. I managed to book an appointment online. I read the Covid secure instructions. After parking in their car park I wore my mask and went into the reception area, sanitised my hands at the dispenser. The floor was mapped out in 2 m circles. the receptionist was shielded completely by perspex apart from a small hole to pass me a pager sealed in a poly bag. I then returned to my car. The pager went off when they were ready for me. I walked in and the vet ushered me and Ted into her room.It had a large Perspex sheet between the vet her bench and myself. Paid for meds by card. It was a good experience being able to chat to the vet in person
 
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