Here is a guide on COVID-19 for pet owners; what Hoof & Paw Mobile Veterinary Services is doing in response to COVID-19 and where you can get the most accurate and up-to-date information on how COVID-19 impacts pet owners.
What is Hoof & Paw Mobile Veterinary Services doing in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
A Note From Dr. Kate Ross
I am following all current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Veterinary Medical Association for mobile veterinarians. I am evaluating my procedures on a daily basis and receiving daily briefings from these and other public health agencies. I am disinfecting all equipment between each patient as well as practicing social distancing during appointments.
I am mandated to screen all appointments for COVID-19 risk. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19 your appointment will be rescheduled. Currently recognized symptoms of COVID-19 include: cough, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell. Current recommendations for mobile veterinarians require veterinarians to wear masks during all housecall appointments. Pet owners will be subject to current mask requirements in New Mexico at the time of their appointment. If you are a pet owner AND a current client of Hoof & Paw Mobile Veterinary Services I can provide veterinary telemedicine visits; refer to the Telemedicine tab on this website.
Keeping our pets healthy by maintaining veterinary care is one essential step we as pet owners can do to help ensure our community health. I am continuing to schedule veterinary care appointments for pets.
All appointments are screened to determine if a telemedicine appointment is appropriate.
If you have a veterinary emergency that requires immediate service or is after normal business hours for Hoof & Paw Mobile Veterinary Services please contact our contract emergency services clinic, Albuquerque Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center (505-884-3433) BEFORE bringing your pet into the clinic. They will be able to assist you with their current protocol for receiving patients and owners during the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Thank you for your understanding,
Dr. Kate Ross
Current Information for Pet Owners
Research involving COVID-19 and pets is being updated daily for veterinarians and public health officials. The following link is a current summary of the latest information regarding COVID-19 and pets with recommendations for ALL pet owners:
All links below are being updated daily with new information. Please check links frequently for the latest information available for pet owners.
Latest Research Summary from CDC regarding pets and pet owner risks above
Information for pet owners who are infected with COVID-19 and are in home care or isolation is above, including information about pet owners that own service animals
Information for pet owners who would like more information about testing their pet for COVID-19
Current summary of COVID-19 cases in Animals; including pets from American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
AVMA Resource on Pet Safety During COVID-19
In summary, current recommendations as of July 2020, if owners are infected with COVID-19 they are to limit access with any pets and have another household member care for the pet during the entire 14-day quarantine period. The pet caregiver should wear gloves and use other health precautions as recommended by the CDC. Although pets cannot directly transmit the virus, they have been shown to carry the virus in households where owners have been infected with COVID-19 (because disinfecting an animal is impossible). These measures are out of precaution to prevent further exposure to the virus for human pet caregivers.
Summary
Make sure you have enough food and medicine to meet your pet's needs for 30 days. We are experiencing numerous drug shortages so you may not be able to get medications refilled when needed. Have a plan for your pet's care in case of an emergency. Telemedicine visits for veterinary patients are currently available if required by pet owners.
Be Prepared as a Pet Owner!