January 2021-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 coming months of the coronavirus pandemic. We have made some changes to our policies to abide by the state and federal recommendations to help reduce the 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. EquidDoc veterinarians and staff will always wear a properly fitting and effective mask on your property. We also wear gloves and sanitize our hands (and equipment) frequently.  We ask that you also always wear an approved and properly fitting mask both outside and inside the barn while we are at your boarding location or property.  
3. If you have an appointment and do not feel well, have a household member who does not feel well, have been exposed to someone testing positive to COVID, have a household member who has been exposed to someone testing positive for COVID, or have traveled out of the state, please have a healthy surrogate from outside your direct household step in for you.  We also ask that you be available by phone during the appointment time to make any decisions.  
4.  If you do not have a healthy friend or family member from outside your direct household to step in for you, please give our office a call at 508-885-4205 and we will happily reschedule your appointment.   
5. The CDC has recommended the use of face masks and physical distancing, maintaining 6-feet between people, and to limit the amount of time that we are near you.  As a result, you will notice the following:
   1. EquidDoc veterinarians will call you when we are 15-30 minutes away from your farm or home.  
   2. We ask that you use that time to bring your animal into a stall or small pen, and leave a halter (horse, goat, sheep, alpaca) or collar (goat, sheep, alpaca) on for easy catching.  
   3. We ask for your strict cooperation in having just 1 animal handler present at the time of the appointment.
   4. EquidDoc veterinarians will call you from our truck when we arrive at your farm or home.  We will ask you a series of questions about your animal, just like we usually do when we arrive on the farm.  
   5. We will then enter your barn and examine your animal.  If possible, we will do this without your assistance.  In case of an animal who does not like to be caught, we might ask for your assistance, and then take the lead rope from you to complete our exam alone.  In case your assistance is further required, please follow the veterinarian’s guidance on where to stand, to maintain distance, while completing the exam.  
   6. We will require your assistance for steps such as blood draws, x-rays, and giving medications.  We will attempt to make this process as efficient as possible and ask that you have barn doors and/or windows open for improved ventilation while we complete these tasks, despite the winter temperatures.  
   7. At the conclusion of the appointment, EquidDoc veterinarians will return to the truck to clean up, complete paperwork, and give you a call to review patient care instructions, obtain payment, and address any questions that you may have.  
   8. Although we routinely appreciate your assistance helping us pick up, please allow EquidDoc veterinarians and staff to handle and carry our own supplies & equipment. 
   9. Whenever possible, we will stand at greater than the 6-foot distance from you, if you notice that we are taking a step backward, please do the same and take a step back, we thank you! 

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 and please stay safe! 

EquidDoc Veterinary Services, LLC

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

Facebook @equiddocvet – equiddocvet.com/blog

COVID and my animals: What do I need to know?

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.

• Does COVID-19 affect my animal?
  Pets and companion animals are not easily infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.  As of June 2020, worldwide, there have been fewer than 25 pets confirmed positive with COVID while human infections exceeded 7 million.
• 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 to 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 at 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 from state and local officials.