COVID-19 Information Update 9/21/2022

With many CT residents now vaccinated against COVID-19, changes to mask mandates are occurring.  We are following current CDC guidelines. Unfortunately, as not all residents are yet vaccinated, we feel it is still essential to continue to take precautions to protect our staff and our clients.  We recognize there are several reasons that may have prevented clients and staff from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, so if you aren't yet vaccinated we request that you please wear a mask when talking with our staff both inside and outside the building.

We are seeing clients and pets in the hospital again, but will still do curbside visits at client request.
We request only one person to come inside for their pet's exam.
This is for everyone's safety! 

We are asking you to:

• PLEASE LIMIT FAMILY MEMBERS TO ONE PER PET FOR APPOINTMENTS INSIDE THE BUILDING. WE WILL STILL DO CURBSIDE APPOINTMENTS AT REQUEST.
• PLEASE, IF YOU ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED, WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOU WEARING A MASK WHEN YOU SPEAK WITH STAFF.
• PLEASE HELP US MAINTAIN SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE STAFF.
• IF YOUR PET NEEDS AN ELECTIVE PROCEDURE, SUCH AS A NAIL TRIM, PLEASE CALL FIRST FOR A GOOD TIME TO VISIT.
• PLEASE DO NOT COME TO AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR PET IF YOU ARE SICK, HAVE BEEN SICK OR AROUND SOMEONE SICK IN THE LAST 10 DAYS.
• IF YOUR PET NEEDS TO BE SEEN URGENTLY, ARRANGE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND TO BRING YOUR PET.  PLEASE CALL US AND WE WILL HELP DETERMINE HOW TO GET YOUR PET IN SAFELY TO BE EXAMINED.
• PLEASE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW CT. GOV GUIDELINES ON THE "NEED TO QUARANTINE" . 
   

Our role as health professionals is to help you care for your pets' needs without endangering you, your family, our staff and their families.  We have implemented guidelines for our practice based on CT Health Department recommendations:https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/Latest-COVID-19-Guidance

WHEN IN DOUBT, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL!
 WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR PETS!!  
860-779-0608

SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19

COVID-19 is a new viral infection that is part of the family of coronaviruses.  It is believed to be a recent mutation, possibly from a bat, and now has the ability to invade the human body. Since it is new to our bodies we have no natural immunity. Coronaviruses are a family of virus that infect people, often with cold-like symptoms, or worse, and other species, but most are thought not to be zoonotic, crossing between species unless there is a mutation, which is not common for this virus. 

Since the appearance of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that emerged in the last months of 2019, it has swept around the world in a matter of a few months. Our bodies have no innate resistance since this particular virus is new to us. Unfortunately, that means that millions, or more, throughout the world will become infected.  For most their symptoms will be mild, but for elderly, immunocompromised, or those young or old with other preexisting disease, they may die from the respiratory complications of the disease.  For those with mild symptoms they may not even realize they have been infected, BUT they are infectious to others very early on. As there is yet no vaccine, or effective treatment, it is critical that we all do our part to slow down the transmission of the disease. This will keep our health care system being able to help those who require hospitalization from COVID, as well as all those other diseases or accidents that come along and require a hospital intervention to save the person's life.   

So far it still appears for those with canine and feline companions that the good news is that there is no concrete evidence that our pets can become infected and transmit COVID-19 to their owners.  This is being closely monitored throughout the world with possibly three cases recognized, but the data is looking promising. We will keep you updated on the latest information as our understanding of this disease increases. We have reliable links below for our clients to follow to read more about the guidelines and disease.