Information Regarding COVID-19

Dear EquidDoc Clients, 

We want to reassure you that EquidDoc is committed to keeping our clients, our patients, and our employees safe and healthy during the current coronavirus outbreak. We have made some changes to our policies to abide by the state and federal recommendations to help reduce community spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. EquidDoc wants you to know that these measures are designed to help keep you, our valued clients, our staff, and our veterinarians safe and healthy. EquidDoc’s goal is to provide un-interrupted routine service and 24/7 emergency service to our clients. 

 Here’s what you should expect when we come to your farm: 

1. Most importantly, if one of our staff or veterinarians feels unwell you can trust that through an abundance of caution they will not go to your farm.  We will only send healthy veterinarians to your farm.   
2. As you know, we cannot care for your animals from a remote location, so we ask for your help.  If you have an appointment and do not feel well, please have a healthy family member or friend step in for you.  We also ask that you be available by phone during the appointment time to make any decisions. Once we have examined your animal, we will give you a call before proceeding with any tests or treatments. 
3.  If you do not have a healthy friend or family member to step in for you, please give our office a call at 508-885-4205 and we will happily reschedule your appointment.   
4. The CDC has recommended the use of social distancing or maintaining a distance of 3-5 feet between people.  As a result, you will notice the following:
   1. EquidDoc veterinarians will not be shaking your hand, but we will still provide a friendly wave & smile!
   2. We will stand at a distance from you and may sit in our vehicle to process paperwork. 
   3. We ask that you limit the people present at an appointment to 1 handler per animal.
   4. If we need to be in prolonged or close proximity with you for a procedure on your animal, we may elect to wear a mask.  

We will change these recommendations as needed under the advice of state and local officials.  Please know that EquidDoc will continue to provide routine appointments and 24/7 emergency services for our clients’ animals.  

Thank you for your support, 

EquidDoc Veterinary Services, LLC

Questions? 508-885-4205 —  Office@equiddocvet.com 

Facebook@equiddocvet – equiddocvet.com/blog

Does COVID-19 affect my animal?  What do I need to know?

There is a lot of information and misinformation regarding the respiratory Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19).  Below is a summary of the information provided by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) regarding COVID-19 and our companion and farm animals.  For more information please refer to the AVMA FAQS and Additional Resources.

• Does COVID-19 affect my animal?

At this time there is no evidence to support that our family pets, horses and farm animals can become sick with COVID-19.  There is also no known transmission of COVID-19 between animals and humans, meaning that your animals cannot make you sick. You may have heard that a dog in Hong Kong tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, but the dog was not sick. The test found a part of the genetic material of the COVID-19 virus in the dog, but that does not mean that the virus was living or infectious.  There is a difference between being exposed and being infected.

• Should my animal be tested for COVID-19?

There is no current indication that our animals should be or need to be tested for COVID-19.  EquidDoc will continue to monitor these recommendations and keep you informed.

1. I have heard about a coronavirus in horses before, how is the current coronavirus in the news different? 

Coronavirus refers to the family of viruses named for the crown-like shape of the viruses when viewed under an electron microscope.  The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is a new type of virus that causes respiratory disease in humans. The coronavirus we refer to in horses is an enteric coronavirus, meaning it affects the gastrointestinal system.  Most domestic animals have enteric coronaviruses: cows (winter dysentery), pigs (transmissible gastroenteritis), cats (feline infectious peritonitis), and horses (equine coronavirus infection).  Equine coronavirus infection is highly contagious and causes fever and diarrhea particularly in young horses in boarding stables.  The equine coronavirus does not affect other species.

• What if I become sick? 

If you become sick it is important for you to take care of yourself and to take all steps necessary to prevent exposure of other people.  Out of an abundance of caution veterinary professionals recommend that you have a healthy family member or friend care for your animal. Please take steps to have enough feed and medications for your animals in case you require quarantine.  

• How do I contact EquidDoc Veterinary Services?  

EquidDoc’s office remains open M-F 8:30-4:30  to receive phone calls 508-885-4205, and emails at office@equiddocvet.com, the veterinarian on-call can be reached after-hours by calling the emergency number 508-797-5921.  At this time EquidDoc continues to provide routine and emergency services for our clients and will continue to do so with guidance for state and local officials over the coming weeks.