To all our valued Piney Creek Square Integrative Veterinary Medicine clients and pets,
We’re taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and we are addressing it with the necessary precautions to do our part in preventing its spread. We continue to remain open during the outbreak of COVID-19 but we are instituting some policies to keep both you and our staff safe.
Please do not visit our clinic if you are experiencing ANY symptoms of illness. We are asking clients who are sick (respiratory disease) or clients who have potentially been exposed or who have tested positive COVID-19 to NOT bring their pets into the clinic. Please make other arrangements for the pet to be brought in or we can arrange a drop off situation. We want to continue to provide excellent care for your precious pets, and in order to do so, we need to stay healthy. We work very closely with each other and your pets. Illnesses can spread easily in this environment. Pets can be contaminated with virus particles and serve as a fomite (essentially a contaminated surface) in the spread. And if your pet is scheduled for a routine wellness visit in the coming weeks and you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, you may consider rescheduling the appointment.
In an effort to keep our Piney Creek family healthy – please read our policies to address preventing the spread of the COVID-19 novel virus pandemic.
What you can do:
- Please phone the office 2 hours prior to your appointment to make alternative arrangements if you or any family member at home has had a positive test for COVID-19 or has exhibited ANY of the following symptoms within the past 72 hours:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath/Difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
We will accommodate your needs and can reschedule non-urgent cases or suggest potential options for your pet if urgent care is warranted.
- If you or someone in your family has traveled at all in the past 2 weeks, please inform our staff when making an appointment. We ask you to consider whether a visit for your pet is absolutely necessary now or is it something that can be reconsidered in the coming weeks. Alternate arrangements (see below) may be available to meet your pet’s needs as well.
- We are asking clients with non-urgent/life-threatening appointments to reschedule their pet appointments if they/the client feel sick.
- Please be patient while we schedule appointments, during our check in/out procedures. Taking the necessary precautions between clients and patients will require more time. We will be adjusting our scheduling accordingly.
- Our facility does not have a public restroom. Please take this into account when visiting the clinic. We are very sorry for this inconvenience.
- We also ask that all clients refrain from shaking hands or hugging our staff.
What we are doing:
- Employees are not allowed to work with any symptoms of illness. Rest assured that we are taking all precautions to protect you when you visit our clinic. Any employees with a recent history of domestic or international flight travel will be subject to the restrictions determined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) when considering an individual’s ability to work within the clinic. For what it’s worth, none of our employees have any planned travel in the coming months.
- We are increasing the frequency in which our facilities are sanitized. We are disinfecting ALL surfaces (including counters, keyboards, phones, handles/knobs) between visits and staff will be spending additional time before and after appointment hours to clean and disinfect all public areas. We are committed to keeping everyone safe.
- We’re removing all pens, refreshments and promotional items from the lobby. They will be available upon request. We’ve also discarded all magazines and reusable reading/entertainment material.
Regarding appointments and alternate arrangements available:
To ensure the safety of our clients and staff alike, we have moved to curbside/drop-off appointments and procedures effective immediately. Our process will be as follows:
- Please call us 3036933133 when you are in the parking lot of the hospital for your pet’s scheduled appointment.
- A staff member will come out and bring your pet into the clinic for diagnosis and treatment.
- The doctor will communicate with you by phone for additional history, diagnostic and treatment recommendations.
- Except for end-of-life care, clients will not have access to our facilities but may stay on-site in their cars.
- Scheduled drop-off pet visits can be made for exams, blood work or other testing. The same intake and discharge procedures detailed above will occur.
- Drive up to pick up medications and food: We can bring medications and food to your car. We can also mail medications.
- In order to minimize direct contact time, can process payments over the phone and minimizing cash and check transactions when possible.
- Email us at info@pineycreekvetclinic.com if you have NON-URGENT questions, pictures, videos, or would like to request a phone consultation with a veterinary technician or doctor. Please allow 24-48 hours for a reply. A consultation fee may be requested.
- If you have a pet emergency or urgent concern, please call us directly at (303) 693-3133 during normal office hours or your closest Emergency/Critical Care Clinic – check here: https://pineycreekvetclinic.com/emergencies/. The closest ER clinic to Piney Creek is https://aescparker.com/and can be reached at (720) 842-5050.
- If you live in the area, we may be able to deliver medications and prescription food straight to your door. We can also ship them to you.
- In the event of a quarantine, we are researching the ability to offer telemedicine. Legally, for Dr. Dohse offer recommendations/treatments in this format, your pet MUST have a current exam within the past year to maintain a Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR). If one of our doctors has not examined your pet within the past 12 months, call the clinic today to have your pet’s record updated to make this avenue of care an option.
Our pets and COVID-19:
The role that animals play in the spread of this virus is still unknown. To date, there is no evidence that cats and dogs can contract COVID-19 and then infect humans. Pets can, however, serve as a source of the infection because they can be contaminated with the virus particles on their fur. We are doing our best to stay abreast of current developments. We understand there is a lot of information (and misinformation) floating around.
There is one case report out of Hong Kong of a dog testing positive for this specific coronavirus (this dog is owned by a person who has the coronavirus). To date, there is NO EVIDENCE that pets will be affected or sickened in any way by this coronavirus. We will keep you apprised of the situation regarding pets as our understanding increases.
For reliable and up-to-date information, please read:
COVID-19 FAQ for Pet Owners – https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=9548687
Note: When you visit the above link, you will see the complete text of the article including images, handouts and/or links to related articles from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and CDC.
COVID-19 and Animals – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#animals
Tri-County Health Department – https://www.tchd.org/AlertCenter.aspx
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters – https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
COVID-19 is a novel virus. There is much that is unknown and therefore it is NOT just like the flu. We are not panicking; we are being responsible. COVID-19 is much more contagious than other viruses our world has experienced before and can live on a variety of surfaces for extended periods of time. While many who contract the virus will recover, it is our community responsibility to do our part to protect everyone. Please know that we are doing our best to maintain a safe environment for all our clients and staff. We have many clients in high risk groups (such as elderly, immunocompromised, or with underlying medical conditions), so we ask for all of your help and support as we navigate this situation. Thank you for helping us to maintain our high standards for the health and safety of our Piney Creek clients and our Piney Creek Square Integrative Veterinary Medicine team.
We appreciate your understanding and invite you to give us a call with and concerns or questions you may have at 3036933133. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
