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