Why are vets still consulting car parks

[fidleyspromise]

During the first lockdown my dog ripped a claw and that was hard - letting her go in without us. They examined her inside and then came out to discuss what they wanted to do. We agreed, went home and picked her up a couple hours later.

Since then when the animals have needed a vet we've always been allowed in with them - Only one of us (understandable).

Horse's have proceeded as normal with me holding them for vaccines and dental.
Til is due to go in to a different vet with hospital for diastema widening/loose teeth removal and I'm dreading it as not sure if I'll be allowed in at all to get her settled. I've never gad a horse away from home so I'm finding it a massive stress.

Her original appointment was cancelled but I dreaded it as she was to be there by 12 and had a 3pm appointment and then allowed home about 5.30. This pony hates being stabled. I'm waiting for a new appointment or to see if we can refer her further afield.

 

[smiggy]

I work in small animal practice. We are pretty much as normal and have been for months. Apart from asking clients to ring the bell before coming in, so receptionist can check face mask use. Only one person allowed per pet, except for end of life care, and that’s really to protect others as three vets consulting and a small waiting room would get congested. No car park consulting , unless owners request it , and no perspex screens. Oh and no children allowed in building , we may all fight to keep that going ! ..?

 

[HashRouge]

My equine vets have provided a superb service throughout the pandemic. At least one of the senior vets is himself CEV, but has carried on working. I know this as he came out to mine on an emergency OOH call just after his first Covid jab - he'd been bumped up the list for his jab ahead of his age order.

I'd quite like it if he stays working and doesn't get splatted by Covid brought in knowingly or unknowingly by a client.

Anything that I can do to help protect them is fine by me. But then I know this practice well and know that I can trust them implicitly. I would always opt for an excellent local practice with a horsepital over an excellent one without - I can get my horse there in 35 mins, or they will be with me in 25 mins.

When I did eventually get to take the wonky IDx in for pelvic scanning in Aug '20 (she injured herself in late March), we did hand over in the car park but we were allowed to stay outside in the car. My vet kept popping out with updates, as it could have been a PTS situation, but thankfully it wasn't.

At what point in my post did I say "just let the vet catch Covid and to hell with it"? My point was that a lot of what equine vets do takes place outside, or near enough. We know enough about Covid now to know that if you are outside and keep a reasonable distance, transmission is extremely unlikely. So I don't see why the owner in this case had to hand their horse over the in the car park, rather than being able to take it to the stable themselves and settle it. Equally, I don't see why an owner couldn't be present for parts of a consultation that take place outside (i.e. lameness work ups) or in very well-ventilated areas. Obviously if things are being done inside, then I can understand the owner being asked to wait outside.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I think that it's reasonable to allow vets to risk assess their own set ups and staff vulnerability. My vets have their stabling in an american barn, so it's not really an open air situation. I do agree that for fully outdoor procedures such as the trot ups etc that owners should be able to be present.

Pre Covid owners at my practice were always welcome to be present throughout for most day procedures, inc in the treatment rooms during nerve blocks/joint medications etc. I don't know when/if it will revert to that degree of access.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

We lost both our dogs last year, the first in March when our vets would not let us in with the old dog to have her PTS and I objected to having it done in the car park with other clients waiting for vets to come out and collect their pets. It was a very traumatic time and in the end I spoke to a vet friend working in another practise who agreed to do it in the back of our landrover after surgery so car park was empty. The vet and nurse were brilliant and made a very sad situation bearable. The second dog was PTS in July and it was very sudden, dog was sick for two days, took her in for tests and they rung us to say she had complete liver failure and she needed PTS we went back to the surgery and in all fainess the vet took us in through a back door and myself, husband and vet were all in the same room with masks on while she was PTS. Now we can go in with our pets as long as we have a mask on, system works well, notify we have arrived, they give us a pager which when goes off we take the animal into the practise and vet calls us into the surgery.

 

[fiwen30]

I can only speak from the perspective of an owner attending a small animal vet, but our local clinic hasn’t let owners in for a long time, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to start again any time soon.

Our dog needed cruciate surgery in Feb ‘21 - he had a suggested diagnosis by a vet physio at home, confirmation diagnosis by the orthopaedic vet at our local practice in the car park, and then further consultation & surgery at the specialist practice who allowed me to go into the building for the appointments.

We’ve had to take our older cat to the vet a fair few times, initially to get to the bottom of pain and stiffness, and for monthly arthritis injections since then. I would much prefer to be able to go in with her, as she’s of an incredibly nervous disposition, and when investigating a problem with gait in a small animal, you can’t exactly let them loose in the car park!

The last time I asked whether owners would be allowed inside again, our regular vet said she”d be in favour, but there was resistance from the reception staff. Will just have to wait and see if it gets changed back again. I wouldn’t be opposed to the same system of waiting in the car and being called in, rather than using the waiting area inside, but it would be a comfort to be able to go in with our pets again.