As things change, both in the epidemiology of COVID-19 and our approach to containment, re-assessment of how we practice veterinary medicine and COVID-19 protection is important. The latest iteration of our guidance document has been released: COVID-19: A Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine in Ontario, Stage 3. As for the previous versions, this is
Veterinary Clinic Access and COVID-19 Risks
I get a lot of emails about vet clinic access from a wide spectrum of individuals. This includes:
- Owners who are upset they aren’t allowed in the clinic with their pet
- Owners who are worried that their vet clinic isn’t doing enough to prevent transmission of COVID-19
- Vets who want to know how to increase
Canadian Veterinary Industry Visitation Guidelines
As we move forward in the COVID-19 era, a lot of things need to be done differently. We’ve written a lot about procedures in veterinary clinics to maximize distancing and protection while minimizing the impact on patient care. Many ancillary issues have also come up, including limiting or managing people other than clients going into
Updated Ontario Veterinary Practice Guidance for the COVID-19 Era
The title says it all, I guess. Here is the updated OVMA Guide to Reopening Veterinary Medicine in Ontario, Stage 2, hot of the press. It can also be accessed from the Worms & Germs COVID-19 Veterinary Resources page.
Veterinary COVID-19 Infection Control Q&A
Here’s a bit of an odd-and-ends post covering some common questions I’ve been getting about COVID-19 and infection control in veterinary clinics. As always, answers are based on little or no evidence, but on principles of infection control, and they may change as we learn more and as this pandemic continues to evolve.
Would it
Veterinary Clinic Staff Cohorting
One concept that we’ve recommended for COVID-19 control in veterinary clinics is staff cohorting. That involves keeping staff groups together to limit the risk of transmission should someone be infected. If groups (i.e. shifts, or teams that stick together and don’t interact with others) are formed, any single infected person would have contact with a
Occupational exposure risks with COVID-19
We’ve spent a lot of timing working on various recommendations for managing COVID-19 risks in veterinary practice. They’re mainly focused on the most biohazardous species with which veterinary personnel work on a daily basis: humans. While we’re still sorting through animal-related issues, the main emphasis is reducing exposure risk from people, and a recent
Looking towards expanding veterinary care during COVID-19: Ontario
We’re nowhere near the end of this pandemic, and one concern we have is opening things up too quickly and losing the benefits of all the sacrifices that have been made to “flatten the curve.” As restrictions get lifted, we’re not going straight from “now” to “normal.” We’ll have to continue with good physical distancing
Practical ways to help vets during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of strain on a lot of people, and those in the veterinary profession are no exception. Thank you, Captain Obvious. Self-care and mental health support at times like these are critical, but can be hard to come by for many still working on the front lines in clinics,
“Urgent” veterinary care, Ontario: Slightly revised guidance document
In Ontario, veterinary medicine is considered essential, but is currently restricted to “urgent” care only. What constitutes “urgent” is a grey zone. We’ve avoided trying to create a comprehensive list of “what veterinarians should and shouldn’t do” because there are so many factors and nuances to consider in every individual case. Instead, we’ve focused