Opossum Pike Veterinary Clinic

COVID-19 Policy Update

May 18th, 2021

Most of you have probably heard that the CDC has advised that individuals vaccinated for COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks outdoors nor indoors. At this time, businesses still do reserve the right to require clients/patrons to wear masks when entering their buildings.. So what does that mean for clients coming to Opossum Pike Veterinary Clinic?

Until further notice, our COVID-19 policies are as follows:

• Clients must still wear masks covering their face and nose when entering the building.

• Clients may walk into the building without calling first, BUT only two people may be present in the waiting room at a time. If two people are already in the waiting room, please return to your car and call us to give us your cell phone number so that we may tell you when it is safe to enter.

• One client wearing a a mask covering their face and nose may be present in the examination room with their pet.

• Please maintain a 6 foot distance from other clients and the staff.

• If you are feeling ill, please have someone else bring your pet. This is to protect some of our staff who are not vaccinated and to protect other clients who may not yet be vaccinated.

We will continue to revise our policy on a periodic basis. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. 

Sincerely,

    Drs. Arthur, Stastny, and Yau

 COVID-19 Update: November 18th, 2020

For the protection of our clients and staff, as of Monday, November 21st, we will be providing curbside service only. As veterinarians, we swore an oath to promote animal health and welfare but also to protect the health of the public. Our new policy will be put in place to minimize your and our exposure to COVID-19.

This means that with the exception of euthanasias, clients will not be allowed to enter our building.

As of now, the policy below will be in effect until January. But we will continue to keep you updated via our website and Facebook. As things changes, we will let you know.

For now though:

If you have an outpatient appointment scheduled with us:

1. Our receptionists will take a brief description from you as to why your pet is being seen.
2. Bring your cell phone with you.
3. Call us from the car when you arrive, and confirm your cell phone number with us.
4. When instructed:

• For dogs

- Bring your dog into the vestibule just past the front door and hook our blue leash to your dog's collar or harness using the provided hook.

-If you are being seen in our Thurmont office, we will have a staff member meet you at the door to take your leashed pet from you.

- Do NOT leave your dog untethered.


• For cats

• Your cat MUST be in a carrier.
• Bring your cat into the vestibule just past the front door. Leave your cat in it's carrier in the vestibule.

• For exotics
  • Your pet MUST be in a carrier or cage.
  • Bring your pet into the vestibule just past the front door. Leave your pet in it's carrier or cage in the vestibule.

5. Return to your car and await a call from the doctor to discuss your concerns and findings of the exam. Please keep your cell phone clear and stay available for the doctor's call.
6. When we are done working with your pet, we will return your pet to the vestibule and a receptionist will have you pay by phone via credit card. After payment, you may then come retrieve your pet. If you are paying by check or cash, a receptionist will come out to do the transaction at your car through your window.
   -If medications were dispensed, we will hang them on a hook in the vestibule.

If you have scheduled to have your pet dropped off for boarding or an in-house treatment:

1. Bring your cell phone with you.
2. Call us from the car when you arrive and confirm your cell phone number with us. Our receptionists will go over by phone what you are leaving your pet for.
3. When instructed:
   -Bring your dog into the vestibule just past the front door and hook our blue leash to your dog's collar or harness using the provided hook.
   -Leave your cat in it's carrier in the vestibule
   -Do not leave your dog untethered nor bring a cat in without its carrier
   -If you are bringing medications and/or food with you, please let the receptionist know prior to bringing your pet into the clinic.
4. Sign the consent form on the clipboard and be sure to write a both a primary phone number and a secondary phone number where you or someone can be reached while your pet is in our care.
5. As soon as you exit, someone will come retrieve your pet.
6. We will call you when we have an update on your pet or when you pet is ready to go home. But you may call to check in later in the afternoon. Do not walk in unannounced.
7. When you return to pick up your pet, please call us from the car.
8. A receptionist will have you pay by phone via credit card. After payment, you may then come retrieve your pet. If you are paying by check or cash, a receptionist will come out to do the transaction at your car through your window.
   -If medications were dispensed, we will hang them on a hook in the vestibule.

*All pens, clipboards, door handles, and clip for the collars will be disinfected between clients.

If you are coming to pick up medications:

1. Bring your cell phone and call us from the car when you arrive.
2. Our receptionist will have you pay by phone via credit card. They will bring the meds or food out to you.
3. If you are paying by cash or check, a receptionist will come to your car to handle the transaction.

Again, these policy changes are in place to protect human and animal health. If our staff becomes ill, we will no longer be able to provide health care to our patients. During this very difficult time, we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Updated COVID-19 Policy as of July 11th 2020

Updated COVID-19 Policy 7/11/2020

As of Monday, July 13th, we will begin allowing clients into the building at our Opossum Pike location.  Please note the following guidelines we have put into place to protect the health of both you and our staff, so that we may remain open and continue to provide care to your pets.  Please also note that the as the COVID-10 pandemic continues to be an evolving situation our policies are subject to change at any time.  

• To limit crowding in the waiting room, clients must still call us from the parking lot before entering.  Please do not enter the building until you are told to do so.
• Anyone entering the building must wear a mask covering both their mouth and nose.
• Anyone who is not comfortable entering the building may still wait outside in their car while we examine their pet(s).
• Only 1 individual will be allowed in the building with their pet(s).  (We will allow 2 individuals to be present for euthanasias).
• Technicians and caretakers will hold pets for their examinations while clients must remain seated on the bench in the exam room or standing 6 feet away.
• There will be tape marking where clients can stand at the checkout counter and in the waiting room to allow for social distancing from our staff and to discourage leaning on the counters.
• Transactions for medicine and prescription food pickups will still occur over the phone and the medications and the prescription foods will be brought outside for pickup.
• We will continue to thoroughly wipe down and disinfect all doorhandles and countertops and other surfaces throughout the day.

Thank you for you continued patience and understanding.

Thurmont Re-Opening!

Dear Thurmont Clients,

     We are happy to announce that our new office will be re-opened as of Wednesday, July 10th.  Our
new address is:  224 North Church Street, Unit H (in the Thurmont Plaza).  

     Please note that due to continuing COVID-19 concerns, although we will be allowing clients in the building, we do have the following policies put into place immediately for our Thurmont office:

• Only 1 member of the family is allowed in the exam room with their pet.  Any other members of the family must remain outside the office.
• We will have a staff member holding your pet for the exam and you will be required to maintain a 6 foot distance from our doctors and staff.
• Anyone entering the office must be wearing a face mask.
• Clients may not enter the office until instructed to do so. Please call us from the parking lot when you arrive.  Please bring your cell phone.  The number to our Thurmont office is: 301-271-3212

     Please understand that our COVID policies are in place to protect our staff so that we may remain open to keep your pets healthy. Also please remember that as before, we are available at our  Thurmont office by appointment only, on Monday and Friday mornings, and Wednesday afternoons and evenings.

We appreciate your patience and your understanding.

                                             

The Doctors and Staff of Opossum Pike and Thurmont Veterinary Clinics

Thurmont Office Will Be Temporarily Closing

Thurmont Office Relocation Delayed

We have been in the process of moving our Thurmont location and were on track to open April 1^st at our new location but unfortunately this process has been temporarily delayed by restrictions placed on us related to COVID-19.

What this means is that our satellite office in Thurmont will be temporarily closed as of March 31^st. We anticipate re-opening at our new location (Thurmont Plaza on N. Church St.) in May. We apologize for any inconvenience. Our clients can still be seen at our Frederick office. Please watch for updates through our website, email, and Facebook.

COVID-19 Update - March 23rd

COVID-19 Update #2

For the protection of our clients and staff, as of Wednesday, March 25, we will be providing curbside service only. We will, also, be increasing our appointment restrictions. As veterinarians, we swore an oath to promote animal health and welfare but also to protect the health of the public. Our new policy will be put in place to minimize your and our exposure to COVID-19.

This means that with the exception of euthanasias, clients will not be allowed to enter our building.

As of now, the policy below will be in effect until mid-May. But we will continue to keep you updated via our website, Facebook, and e-mails. As things changes, we will let you know.

For now though:

We will no longer be scheduling:

• any dogs for wellness exams/vaccines unless:

• they are due for the Rabies vaccine
• they are puppies that need to start or complete their initial vaccine series
• they are adult dogs that started a vaccine series that needs to be completed
• any totally indoor cats for any wellness exams/vaccines unless:
  • they are kittens that need to start or complete their initial vaccine series
  • they are adult cats that started a vaccine series that needs to be completed
• dog neuters

What we are scheduling:

• ill or injured patients
• wellness visits for outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats
• wellness visits for dogs due that are due their Rabies vaccine
• new pet exams for existing clients only
• cat neuters
• dog and cat spays on a case-by-case basis
• elective surgeries on a case-by-case basis
• euthanasias

If you have an outpatient appointment scheduled with us:

1. Our receptionists will take a brief description from you as to why your pet is being seen.
2. Bring your cell phone with you.
3. Call us from the car when you arrive, and confirm your cell phone number with us.
4. When instructed:

• For dogs

- Bring your dog into the vestibule just past the front door and hook our blue leash to your dog's collar or harness using the provided hook.

- Do NOT leave your dog untethered.
• For cats

• Your cat MUST be in a carrier.
• Bring your cat into the vestibule just past the front door. Leave your cat in it's carrier in the vestibule.

• For exotics
  • Your pet MUST be in a carrier or cage.
  • Bring your pet into the vestibule just past the front door. Leave your pet in it's carrier or cage in the vestibule.

5. Return to your car and await a call from the doctor to discuss your concerns and findings of the exam. Please keep your cell phone clear and stay available for the doctor's call.
6. When we are done working with your pet, we will return your pet to the vestibule and a receptionist will have you pay by phone via credit card. After payment, you may then come retrieve your pet. If you are paying by check or cash, a receptionist will come out to do the transaction at your car through your window.
   -If medications were dispensed, we will hang them on a hook in the vestibule.

If you have scheduled to have your pet dropped off for boarding or an in-house treatment:

1. Bring your cell phone with you.
2. Call us from the car when you arrive and confirm your cell phone number with us. Our receptionists will go over by phone what you are leaving your pet for.
3. When instructed:
   -Bring your dog into the vestibule just past the front door and hook our blue leash to your dog's collar or harness using the provided hook.
   -Leave your cat in it's carrier in the vestibule
   -Do not leave your dog untethered nor bring a cat in without its carrier
   -If you are bringing medications and/or food with you, please let the receptionist know prior to bringing your pet into the clinic.
4. Sign the consent form on the clipboard and be sure to write a both a primary phone number and a secondary phone number where you or someone can be reached while your pet is in our care.
5. As soon as you exit, someone will come retrieve your pet.
6. We will call you when we have an update on your pet or when you pet is ready to go home. But you may call to check in later in the afternoon. Do not walk in unannounced.
7. When you return to pick up your pet, please call us from the car.
8. A receptionist will have you pay by phone via credit card. After payment, you may then come retrieve your pet. If you are paying by check or cash, a receptionist will come out to do the transaction at your car through your window.
   -If medications were dispensed, we will hang them on a hook in the vestibule.

*All pens, clipboards, door handles, and clip for the collars will be disinfected between clients.

If you are coming to pick up medications:

1. Bring your cell phone and call us from the car when you arrive.
2. Our receptionist will have you pay by phone via credit card. They will bring the meds or food out to you.
3. If you are paying by cash or check, a receptionist will come to your car to handle the transaction.

Again, these policy changes are in place to protect human and animal health. If our staff becomes ill, we will no longer be able to provide health care to our patients. During this very difficult time, we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

COVID-19 and Opossum Pike Vet Clinic

COVID-19, Your Pet and the Opossum Pike Veterinary Clinic

The focus of the Opossum Pike Veterinary Clinic has always been the health and welfare of our patients, clients, and staff. With the advent of the coronavirus COVID-19, this still remains our goal.

To protect the health of both humans and pets, we ask that if:

• Your pet is healthy, and is only scheduled for an elective, routine appointment (such as annual exam, vaccines, spay, neuter, clip nails), please reschedule your appointment for a later date.

If you or anyone in your household has been exposed to, diagnosed, showing symptoms or have recently traveled overseas or to an area with active COVID-19 infections and:

• Your pet is sick or injured, please call the office for an appointment. Advise the receptionist that COVID-19 exposure is or may be present in your household. We will set up an appointment time but ask all actively infective persons to have someone else bring the animal in. When you arrive for your appointment that you STAY IN YOUR CAR until a staff member advises you it is okay to enter the clinic. We will use one door for both entering and exiting for these appointments. Clients will not have access to the waiting room, check in/out counters or hallways. The exam room will be disinfected between each appointment to minimize the potential for the spread of the disease.

All requests for prescriptions and diets:

• Your pet is in need of prescription medications or a prescription diet, please call the office. The receptionist will process your prescription request giving you the total owed. We ask that clients prepay this amount by credit card, if at all possible, prior to picking up their prescriptions. This limits the opportunity of possible cross contamination. Then once you arrive at the clinic STAY IN YOUR CAR and call the office to let them know you are there for pickup. A staff member will bring you for pet's prescriptions and the receipt.

Other measures we are taking to protect against COVID-19:

• Greatly reduced routine, elective appointments and procedures.
• Our doctors will be available for telephone consultations at no charge to advise clients who may have medical concerns regarding their pets.
• We've removed all reading materials from our waiting room and exam rooms.
• We're regularly disinfecting entry and exit doors, waiting room and exam room furniture, and all counter tops including check in and check out areas of reception.
• We continue, as we have always, to disinfect our exam rooms between appointments.
• Our clients will have access to soap and water in the exam rooms for washing their hands. Sorry folks, but hand sanitizer is hard to come by these days.

COVID-19 and your pet:

At this time, there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus is contagious to dogs, cats or other household pets. However, all pet owners should be aware of measures to take to protect themselves.

• Do not walk your dog outside where YOU may come into contact with infected people.
• The virus can live on surfaces, including pets. Do not pet or handle animals that may belong to possibly infected people. If they have sneezed or coughed on that animal, the virus could linger on the surface of the fur.
• Keep cats indoors until the situation dramatically improves.
• If you are sick and in need of pet food, kitty litter or other NECESSARY pet care items, ask a neighbor to help out by picking up these items for you.

Please be assured that the Opossum Pike Veterinary Clinic will remain open to care for our patients as long as it is legally permitted and our staff remains healthy. You can help ensure this by observing the above protocals.

For updates to our policy, please visit our webpage, OpossumPikeVet.com or Facebook page. For more information on COVID-19 and pets, please visit the American Veterinary Medical Association at https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/covid-19-faq-pet-owners.pdf