COVID-19 General Information Update For clients of Country Care Pet Hospital

We, like so many of you, are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) impact in our area. Now that there has been a confirmed case of the novel corona virus right here in Bayfield County, we want to share some information and links to help you and your pet stay safe as the situation unfolds, as well as to let you know about the steps we are taking to prevent virus spread.

We are presently remaining open with normal business hours to continue to serve the needs of our patients and community. Any updates to our schedule will be posted right here on our Facebook page and also on our website at countrycarepethospital.com.

Fortunately, every surface of a veterinary hospital is designed to be easily cleaned, and meticulous disinfection has always been at the core of our daily protocols. We are also taking additional precautions in accordance to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and recommendations:

1. We are providing carside service for pet appointments and retail sales to avoid allowing any members of the public to enter our hospital.
2. We have further increased the frequency of our disinfection and deep cleaning protocols and are providing extra hand sanitizer and disinfectants to staff and clients.
3. We have provided additional handwashing instructions to our staff, and, as always, are washing our hands between every patient.
4. We have mandated that anyone on our staff who has any symptoms of illness stay home until they’re cleared to return to work.

At this time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) say there is no evidence that companion animals can spread COVID-19. However, people who are sick with COVID-19 should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just as you would restrict your contact with other people. Here are some helpful links to reference as the situation develops:

Make sure to have an emergency kit prepared with at least two weeks’ worth of your pet’s food and any needed medications. The CDC provides a great Pet Disaster Checklist here: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/disaster-prep-pet-emergency-checklist.pdf

If you become quarantined or diagnosed with COVID-19, you can find the CDC’s guidance on managing this with pets in the household here:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/interim-guidance-managing-people-in-home-care-and-isolation-who-have-pets.htmlIf you are communicating with a public health official, please let them know that you have a pet or other animals in your home.

The CDC’s FAQ on COVID-19 covers topics such as travel, steps to prevent illness, protecting your family, high-risk populations, and pet concerns.

Videos and informational materials on proper hand-washing and the science behind it can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet, or wish to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 715-373-2222.

Be well and stay safe!

Dr. Gerber and the staff at Country Care Pet Hospital

Country Care Pet Hospital Safety Measures During the COVID-19 Epidemic

First and foremost, we want our pet families to know that it is our intention to remain open and available as much as we are able during this time of uncertainty.  We know that our furry family members can become ill or injured regardless of our other plans or distractions.  In addition, as springtime comes to the north country, our pets will be facing their own increased challenges in the form of Leptospirosis, ticks and Lyme Disease, and mosquitos and Heartworm Disease.  We need to be prepared for the inevitable even as we continue to navigate these rapidly changing times.

Our highest priority is to protect the health of our staff and our clients while we continue to provide needed care to our patients.

With the known presence of COVID-19 right here in Bayfield County we are implementing precautionary policies immediately.

We are asking the following:

1. Please understand that we are limiting access to our hospital building to staff members only.
2. Please do not schedule an appointment for your pet if you, yourself, or anyone who shares your home are quarantined or have any symptoms of illness.
3. Please call ahead for any needs, whether to schedule your pet for an appointment or to pick up dispensed medications, or for any retail sales of food, treats, etc.
4. All pet appointments and sales will be handled at your carside, so please remain in your vehicle with your pet until a staff member comes to you.
5. If time permits, certain items can be mailed directly to your home from our office, allowing you to avoid leaving your home.
6. Many other items are available direct to your home via our online store which is called MyVetStoreOnline. This convenient service can be accessed directly from the home page on our website at countrycarepethospital.com.  If you are not yet familiar with this service our staff will be happy to guide you through setting up your account and placing your order.  This option also allows you to fulfill your pet’s needs without leaving home.
7. We are avoiding handling any items that may be passed from one person to another, including credit cards, cash, checks, and pens. For this reason, our preferred method of payment will be credit or debit cards, given verbally, which we will manually enter into our own terminal.

As new information about the novel coronavirus continues to emerge, our policies may change as well.  Please continue to check in with us on Facebook and on our website or feel free to call and talk with us at 715-373-2222 for further updates.

We also want to assure you that, based on all information available at this time, your animal companions are not carriers of this disease, nor can they become ill as a result of this particular coronavirus.

Our hope is that we will continue to be able to provide healthcare for your pet through this crisis, but if we are unable to maintain a safe environment for our staff, we may need to restrict our access further as time goes on.

For now, please stay healthy and safe.  Remember to limit your contact with others as much as possible and to wash your hands frequently.  Our pets can be a great source of comfort and companionship during times such as these, so we will do our best to continue to help you keep them well.

Dr. Gerber and the Staff at Country Care Pet Hospital