Dear clients.
The holidays are here, and your pets are likely getting gifts, too. According to a survey last year by Rover.com, 80% of people get Christmas presents for their dogs and cats. Wow! I bet it is higher this year, as we have been home with them so much more. Remember to avoid anything with small parts they can swallow. And avoid grapes, raisins, and the sweetener xylitol (which is in more and more foods).
Why is it so hard to get veterinary care this year?
Across the country, it is getting harder to get an appointment for your pet, and even harder to get emergency care during evenings and Sundays. With COVID-19, people are staying home more, and maybe more aware of their pets’ health problems. “You know, Fido has had that little limp (or head shake, etc.) for some time now. I better get it looked at.” We have always seen this to some degree on Monday mornings, but now it is like Monday morning all the time. This has caused an increase in demand for appointments.
Add to that demand a shortage of veterinarians. At Dogwood, we have been seeking a part-time doctor for two and a half years.
Now add curbside service, which under Oregon regulations will continue at least another six months. It is less efficient, so we are spending more time on each appointment, even if you don’t see that yourself. COVID processes also mean more time is required between patients, and we can’t have as many pets here at a time. We spent 40 years tuning our service delivery for you, and threw all that out the window in March.
Pet emergency clinics are struggling with both demand and the doctor shortage. ERs are routinely requiring pet owners to wait 3, 4, 10 hours, and at times are even turning patients away.
How do I get care for my pet?
Plan ahead for routine care. We are now offering all services except weekend boarding. Yes, we had a period when spays, neuters, and dentals were prohibited, but once that was lifted, we worked through our backlog. We are now usually 5-10 days out for routine care and 2-3 weeks out for surgery and dentistry. However, if one of our patients has a medical problem, call us.
If your pet is sick or injured when Dogwood is open, call us for advice and to discuss the urgency of your situation. Evenings and Sundays: If your pet is actively bleeding, repeatedly vomiting, having seizures, swallowed a non-food object, ate poison or human medications, or is in visible pain, you need the ER. Now.
If you need your pet’s therapeutic diets or medications refilled, call us. We can have your refills ready usually in less than an hour. Diets are a little trickier, as there are COVID manufacturing and distribution problems that delay some items. Plan ahead and call us so we can get your pet’s food for you. Yes, some of this can be bought on the internet, but we have been seeing problems there, and we are your best source of product support by the manufacturers.
What is curbside service?
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are having you wait in your car during your pet’s appointment. If you haven’t already visited us since March, call when you arrive, and we will walk you through your visit. The only exceptions are for euthanasia or client education such as insulin injection lessons. Before handling your pets, we are asking you about COVID-19 diagnoses or symptoms in your household. That is because animals may be able to spread the virus, and if you are sick, we have to wear more protective equipment when working with your pets.
We are happy to email your receipts. We currently are taking bankcard information over the phone, but can now text you a link to make a secure transaction on your phone without sharing your card information with us.
We miss all those conversations with you when you come in, but we minimize contact to protect our team and to protect you. We already have possible exposure from handling many pets. If we get sick and have to close for even one day, you likely will not be able to get veterinary care. Due to demand, most veterinary offices are not taking new clients, and the wait at emergency clinics is many hours if you can get in at all. We look forward to the day when we can invite you back inside.
Happy holidays from all of us at Dogwood Pet Hospital!
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