|
Oxford County Veterinary ClinicCOVID-19 Screening Questionnaire
To be completed by any individual (employee, volunteer, client, etc.) entering the practice. Screening should occur before a client/patient interacts with our staff members, or when a worker enters the practice at the beginning of their day or shift, and before a client or other visitor is admitted inside the practice. Staff/Visitor Name: _________________________________________ Visitor Contact Number: _____________________________________ Are you exhibiting any of the following symptoms? o Yes o No
Have you travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days? o Yes o No Have you had close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19? o Yes o No Are you awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test after suspected exposure? o Yes o No Have you tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in quarantine? o Yes o No __________________________ __________________________ Signature Date Results of Screening Questions:
|
COVID CLINIC PROTOCOLS1. PRIOR TO YOUR VISIT, PLEASE READ OUR COVID SCREENING SURVEY (to the left). IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS PLEASE RESCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT, EVEN IF ONLY PARTICIPTING IN A CURBSIDE VISIT. If you are feeling ill or have traveled outside the country (ie self isolating) please make alternative arrangements to bring your pets in to the hospital in order to protect both yourselves and our staff. There are currently no penalties for cancelled appointments during this time.
2. Please be patient, wait times for the phone, email, text and appointments may be delayed and are longer then usual. 3. Telemedicine is still available - we are now able to examine your pet via video chat. Inquire if the nature of your pets concerns qualifies! 4. When you arrive at our hospital, please call, text the hospital or knock on the door to advise us of your arrival. Text 519-290-9400. One of our staff members will meet you in the parking lot to answer any questions you may have and to retrieve your pet **Please do not respond to the auto-reminder, no reply, text which originally confirmed your appointment! ** 5. We will then perform any requested services within the hospital and return your pet to you thereafter. This will apply even if you are picking up prescription medication or diets. 6. Payment can be accepted via our point of sale terminal in the parking lot. Payment must be made with a card (debit or credit) or via e-transfer, no cash at this time. E-transfers can be sent to oxfordcountyvet@gmail.com 7. For those clients permitted to enter the building (due to extenuating circumstances), you must complete a COVID screening questionnaire and must wear a mask at all times over your mouth and nose. 8. Please use the webstore (free shipping!), call, e-mail, or use the app for all food and medication refills. We will bring it to your car! Webstore: http://www.myvetstore.ca/oxfordcountyvet **Given mail courier delays, orders may take slightly longer then usual. Food deliveries are expected to take 1-7 days, however we continue to receive daily shipments. You will be notified of any products that are not in stock or on back order as soon as we know! Thank you for your patience and understanding Please:
***We appreciate your understanding and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have*** |
From Dr Scott Weese, DVM, Infectious disease specialist
"COVID-19 is predominantly, if not exclusively, maintained through human-to-human transmission, the overall goal of social distancing is to reduce human-to-human contact, both by reducing the incidence of contacts and reducing the closeness and duration of any required contacts. It is recognized that complete social distancing is not possible in veterinary medicine; therefore, measures must be in place to reduce the risk of exposure when distancing is not possible. The role of animals in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. Zoonotic transmission, if it occurs, is presumably very rare. However, veterinarians are at the forefront of risk groups, particularly as they may have contact with animals owned by people with active COVID-19. While the risk is low, it is impossible to say that it is zero. Therefore, measures to minimize zoonotic transmission risks are indicated
Viral transmission mainly occurs through close contact and droplet transmission. Risks are greatest in three situations, the ‘3 Cs’. - Closed spaces - Crowded situations - Close contact settings. Risks are enhanced when droplet generating procedures are common, including talking, coughing, sneezing and yelling, and with longer contact times. These situations are very common in normal veterinary clinics, highlighting the potential risk of transmission and need for preventive measures.
Measures to reduce risk include: ▪ Limiting the number of people that enter the clinic (maximizing care that does not involve the client entering the clinic) ▪ Limiting the number of people that are in the clinic at any given time ▪ Limiting contact between animal owners and clinic personnel or other owners ▪ Minimizing the duration of contact between animal owners and clinic personnel ▪ Minimizing or avoiding contact in closed spaces ▪ Maximizing the use of physical barriers (e.g. plexiglass shields) ▪ Maximizing the use of personal protective equipment (e.g. masks) ▪ Physical distancing ▪ Cleaning and disinfection ▪ General infection prevention and control ▪ Evaluating clinic personnel interactions (e.g. ‘clinic bubbles’) ▪ Maximizing ventilation
COVID 19 and Animals
Human-pet transmission may be relatively common in households. ▪ Most infected animals likely have clinically inapparent infections. ▪ Cats can develop a range of (usually mild) respiratory tract or GI manifestations. Dogs seem to be resistant to clinical disease but may have mild disease (e.g. transient anorexia and depression). ▪ Cat-cat transmission can occur, so cat-human transmission should be considered possible. ▪ Dogs are less effective hosts and infected likely pose a much lower transmission risk than cats.
Ferrets are likely quite susceptible to infection, and presumably pose some risk of zoonotic transmission. ▪ Common livestock species appear to be minimally susceptible or non-susceptible ▪ Susceptibility of horses is unclear. ▪ Mink are of particular concern because of their susceptibility, ability to transmit the virus back to people and the potential for mutation of the virus with widespread transmission on farms. ▪ Wildlife susceptibility is variable and inadequately understood. Most urban wildlife species seem to have limited susceptibility but some (e.g. deer mice, deer) can be infected and transmit the virus.
"COVID-19 is predominantly, if not exclusively, maintained through human-to-human transmission, the overall goal of social distancing is to reduce human-to-human contact, both by reducing the incidence of contacts and reducing the closeness and duration of any required contacts. It is recognized that complete social distancing is not possible in veterinary medicine; therefore, measures must be in place to reduce the risk of exposure when distancing is not possible. The role of animals in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. Zoonotic transmission, if it occurs, is presumably very rare. However, veterinarians are at the forefront of risk groups, particularly as they may have contact with animals owned by people with active COVID-19. While the risk is low, it is impossible to say that it is zero. Therefore, measures to minimize zoonotic transmission risks are indicated
Viral transmission mainly occurs through close contact and droplet transmission. Risks are greatest in three situations, the ‘3 Cs’. - Closed spaces - Crowded situations - Close contact settings. Risks are enhanced when droplet generating procedures are common, including talking, coughing, sneezing and yelling, and with longer contact times. These situations are very common in normal veterinary clinics, highlighting the potential risk of transmission and need for preventive measures.
Measures to reduce risk include: ▪ Limiting the number of people that enter the clinic (maximizing care that does not involve the client entering the clinic) ▪ Limiting the number of people that are in the clinic at any given time ▪ Limiting contact between animal owners and clinic personnel or other owners ▪ Minimizing the duration of contact between animal owners and clinic personnel ▪ Minimizing or avoiding contact in closed spaces ▪ Maximizing the use of physical barriers (e.g. plexiglass shields) ▪ Maximizing the use of personal protective equipment (e.g. masks) ▪ Physical distancing ▪ Cleaning and disinfection ▪ General infection prevention and control ▪ Evaluating clinic personnel interactions (e.g. ‘clinic bubbles’) ▪ Maximizing ventilation
COVID 19 and Animals
Human-pet transmission may be relatively common in households. ▪ Most infected animals likely have clinically inapparent infections. ▪ Cats can develop a range of (usually mild) respiratory tract or GI manifestations. Dogs seem to be resistant to clinical disease but may have mild disease (e.g. transient anorexia and depression). ▪ Cat-cat transmission can occur, so cat-human transmission should be considered possible. ▪ Dogs are less effective hosts and infected likely pose a much lower transmission risk than cats.
Ferrets are likely quite susceptible to infection, and presumably pose some risk of zoonotic transmission. ▪ Common livestock species appear to be minimally susceptible or non-susceptible ▪ Susceptibility of horses is unclear. ▪ Mink are of particular concern because of their susceptibility, ability to transmit the virus back to people and the potential for mutation of the virus with widespread transmission on farms. ▪ Wildlife susceptibility is variable and inadequately understood. Most urban wildlife species seem to have limited susceptibility but some (e.g. deer mice, deer) can be infected and transmit the virus.