Vet Changes

Your pets need healthcare, even during a pandemic.

Your pets need healthcare, even during a pandemic.

Now, veterinarians are changing how your furry family members are treated.

Our stephanie poole explains.

Donut open- check-ups at emerson animal hospital in west point are looking a little bit different.

To keep owners and their pets safe the hospital is offering curbside assistance.

" the client pulls up and they call us when we're here."

Dr. karen emerson is the owner and veterinarian at emerson animal hospital.

Although the virus has changed normal operations, emerson says the new protocols still keep pet owners fully engaged.

"we actually go out with mask and gloves to talk to them to find out what's going on with their pet.

After we've made sure their not sick or anyone in their home is sick we bring the pet in and we do a physical exam and then we call them in their car and we go through what we would as if they were in an exam room."

Emerson says a way to prevent the virus from entering the hospital or your around your pet is using protective gear.

" if you are sick or running a fever we want you to avoid contact with your pet.

And we're not extremely worried about your pets getting coronavirus but we're worried about you getting droplets on your pets or mucus on your pets.

If you're coughing and touching your face then rubbing your pets if your pet touches you and then runs to another family they can get coronavirus from the fur."

One growing concern is the number of clients keeping their appointments.

To keep animal treatment on- going, the hospital is offering "in- housing shelter" for pets.

" that has reassured some of them.

Some of them can't leave their homes because their elderly.

So we are now offering here at emerson animal where we will actually go to their homes and get their pets for them.

We bring them here, do the services we need to do and then take them back to their homes."

Emerson says as long as there is a risk, her hospital will continue to offer home pick-up program.

Reporting in clay county, stephanie poole, wcbi news.

Visit our website for more information about the program and curbside assistance on our website,w-c-b-i-dot- com.