Dear Acorn clients,

At Acorn Veterinary Clinic, the health and well-being of you, your pets, our staff, and our community is our utmost priority.  We understand the concern and sense of uncertainty you may be experiencing regarding the coronavirus. We are committed to being responsive to your needs as well as the needs of your beloved pets and our staff as the situation unfolds.

We are closely following the news and want to share with you what we are doing and what you can do to support these efforts.

We have been and will continue to be as proactive as possible, and mindful of best practices to help reduce risk around exposure and transmission.

All surfaces that are frequently touched are now getting disinfected with strong disinfectants that kill all types of viruses multiple times a day (e.g. reception counters and doorknobs).  All the exam room tables and chairs are disinfected after every visit of our clients and their pets, all the floor surfaces are mopped with disinfectant three times a day. All our doctors and staff wash our hands with soap between all animal handling, as we always have done.

Before your appointment, we ask that you wash your hands in our exam room sinks or use the hand sanitizer at the desk. You can use our disinfectant to wipe off your pet’s leash if you would like. We will have a disinfectant bottle on each side of the reception counter.

For those of you who need to have your pets seen by our doctors, we have increased the number of available exam rooms to minimize your wait time in the common reception area.

For those of you who are at Acorn for technician appointments, you are welcome to wait outside of the reception area after checking in if you wish, and we would be happy to come to get your pet to minimize your exposure to the common reception area.

We have always encouraged our staff to remain at home if they are feeling unwell and will continue doing so now.  We also encourage you to stay home if you're not feeling well.

If you are interested in a phone consultation please call and let us know.

As always, we greatly appreciate you for entrusting us with your pets’ care.

Sincerely,  Your friends at Acorn Veterinary Clinic

Below are FAQ pertaining to Coronavirus and your pets.  We hope that you will find them useful.

 

With the rapid spread of both news and COVID-19 disease from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it’s hard to know where to turn for information. Many of you are as concerned about your pets as you are about your human family. We know how you feel! You want the facts to help keep your whole family – furry, feathered, scaly, or human – safe.

What do you need to know?  First off, it’s early days in both the outbreak and in our knowledge of the virus. Recommendations may change as our understanding of the virus and associated disease changes, so be sure to check with us and/or monitor the shared sources at the bottom of this newsletter regularly for new information. We do know that COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a newly recognized member of the coronavirus family that appears to primarily infect humans.

Other coronaviruses are responsible for things like colds in humans. However, each member of a viral family is as different from each other as you are from your Great-Uncle Louis.

This particular coronavirus is spreading rapidly because humans don’t yet have immunity built up in our populations. This is why staying home as much as possible, disinfecting surfaces, and washing your hands are important to slow the spread of the virus throughout our community.

Can I get SARS-CoV-2 from my dog or cat? As of now, there’s little indication that dogs or cats are likely to carry or transmit the virus to humans; however there is the rare chance this can happen. The biggest concern right now is pets acting as fomites -- a virus-contaminated surface.

So, for now, avoid snuggling your pets with your face and as always, wash your hands after handling or picking up after your pet.

Can my dog or cat get SARS-CoV-2 from a person?
Possibly. There has been at least one case where a dog tested positive for the virus after being exposed to an infected human.  However, human-to-pet transmission seems to be quite rare.

Can my veterinarian test my pet for SARS-CoV-2?
Probably not, and it’s probably not necessary.  Right now, in many countries, there aren’t enough resources to test all humans showing symptoms.  If your pet has a cough, a fever, or is otherwise ill, there are many other things that are far more likely to be causing those signs.

My pet has an appointment, but I’m not feeling well.
If you or anyone in your household is running a fever or showing other signs of illness, please stay home and take care of yourself. We’d be happy to reschedule your appointment.

Where can I learn more?
This article on Veterinary Partner has compiled a list of frequently updated and reliable resources on COVID-19 as well as the answers to some frequently asked questions:
Veterinary Partner COVID-19 Article

The AVMA has created an informative web page covering general issues COVID-19 as it pertains to humans and pets: 
AVMA COVID-19 Info

The Worms and Germs Blog is providing frequent reports on this issue: 
Worms and Germs Blog

The CDC website is a resource for human-specific info:
CDC COVID-19 Info

And also has a FAQ section specific to pets: 
CDC Coronavirus and Pets FAQ
 
As with so many things in life, exercising common sense and some extra care, plus lots of hand washing and sanitizing, will benefit us all. Please let us know if you have COVID-19 questions specific to your pet.