UPDATE 5/15/2020:
As our area moves into the "yellow phase" under Governor Wolf's guidelines, please note that we will NOT be making any changes to the below protocol. Social distancing remains a key part of maintaining the progress we've made as a community.

​Following guidance from the CDC and the AVMA, we will continue to provide curbside service with only staff entering the building until further notice.

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ANNOUNCEMENT 3/16/2020:

Dear Pet Parents:

Many businesses in our area are facing reduced hours or complete closure as we prepare our community for the COVID-19 pandemic. Please know that our offices will remain open as long as we are able to. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is working to ensure that veterinarians are classified as "essential businesses" in regards to government-mandated closures. This not only will allow us to continue to provide care for your pets, but it protects the veterinarians that care for our food supply animals across the country.

We are operating on normal business hours - this includes sick visits, wellness care, and surgical services. Our staff is staying current with updates from the CDC and local health officials. As a medical facility, hygiene and surface disinfection have always been a priority in our office. We are extending these efforts beyond our already high standards, using approved methods and cleaners as recommended by the CDC.

In an effort to reduce foot traffic within our building, we are recommending the following:

APPOINTMENTS:

• Please send only one family member to your visit.
• You can stay in your car - call us when you arrive, and a staff member will come out to you. Many tech appointments and minor procedures can be done right in the parking lot; otherwise we can take the pet into the office for examination/diagnostics/treatment and return him/her to you when finished. The doctor will communicate with you by phone or will come out to speak with you directly if needed.
• Payments can be taken with a credit card over the phone or a staff member will take payment and return your receipt.
• In the event that you are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.), we ask that you call us to reschedule your appointment. If your pet is sick, have someone else bring your pet to the office and keep staff informed.
  
  

SURGERY DROP-OFF:

• Call us when you arrive. The surgery technician will bring your pet's consent forms and check you in before bringing your pet into the office.
• We will call you after your pet's procedure; he/she will stay with us for awhile longer during recovery.
• Call again when you arrive at the arranged pickup time. We will go over discharge instructions and aftercare with you and take payment (if not already done by phone) before bringing your pet back to the car.

HOUSE CALLS:

• At this time, we are continuing our house call services to the local area. While these are best suited for wellness visits, we can provide services for sick pets. Understand that "sick visit" house calls can be complicated in that we do not have our full line of diagnostic tools available on the road, but we can absolutely obtain samples and provide supportive care in many cases. If need be, we can also bring your pet back to the office with us for additional testing/treatment.

MEDICATION PICKUP:

• Please allow 24 hours for prescription refills.
• When your order is ready for pickup, we will take your payment by phone.
• Call us when you arrive at the office, and a staff member will bring your pet's prescription to you.

​PRESCRIPTION FOOD PICKUP:

• Please call ahead to check inventory and allow time for doctor's authorization.
• When your order is ready for pickup, we will take your payment by phone.
• Call us when you arrive at the office, and a staff member will bring your pet's food to you.
• All Hill's Prescription Diets after this pickup will be provided through the Hill's to Home program. Staff will email you an invite to this service and future orders will be delivered to your home at no additional cost.

CAN MY PET BE INFECTED WITH OR SPREAD CORONAVIRUS?
From the AVMA 3/15/2020: We do not have a clear answer as to whether SARS-CoV-2 can infect pets at this time. That said, currently, there is no evidence that pets become sick. Infectious disease experts, as well as the CDC, OIE, and WHO indicate there is also no evidence to suggest that pet dogs or cats can be a source of infection with SARS-CoV-2, including spreading COVID-19 to people. More investigation is underway and, as we learn more, we will update you.

We encourage pet owners to visit AVMA.org for the most current information regarding pets and the novel coronavirus. You can find the most current FAQ fact sheet here.

This is a rapidly-changing situation for all of us across the world. Know that we are doing everything we can to continue to provide the best care possible for your pets while maintaining the safety of our staff, clients, and our community as a whole. Look for additional updates from us via email, our website and our Facebook page.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation during this time. If we all do our part to maintain social distancing and minimize interactions with others in the community, our hospitals and ICU units have a fighting chance to minimize the impact of COVID-19. We're all in this together!

Sincerely,
Your friends at Tender Touch Veterinary Hospital

Published March 16, 2020