We continue to monitor the status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in and around our community and are making the best decisions we can to care for our patients while keeping you and our veterinary team as safe as possible.
We will be keeping our clients up-to-date via PetDesk, our website, email newsletters, Facebook, and other social media channels. Please monitor closely for our updated status as this is changing daily.
As of now, we continue to maintain regular business hours and appointments. However, starting on Wednesday March 18th, we will no longer allow clients into the building. Please see the following for additional information about what to expect with these new protocols.
Appointments
- If you are experiencing any signs of illness; have any flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, or shortness of breath; or have had any of these signs within the past fourteen days, please reschedule any upcoming routine appointments.
- If you have recently had an increased risk of exposure by traveling or attending a large gathering, please postpone your appointment until after a fourteen-day quarantine.
- If you are ill, have been ill within the past fourteen days, or have had an increased risk of exposure and your pet needs urgent care or medical attention, please ask a friend, neighbor or family member to bring your pet into our facility. If you call ahead, we will gladly accommodate your pet’s guardian and make the appropriate arrangements.
- If anyone in your household is ill, has been ill within the past fourteen days, or has had an increased risk of exposure, please call ahead to inform us so that we may take the appropriate protective measures to keep our team safe while handling your pet and your pet’s belongings. Our veterinary team will be wearing gloves when handling your pet in these situations.
- We will no longer be allowing clients to enter the building with their pets. Instead, we will be offering ‘curbside service’.
- When new appointments are scheduled, please provide your vehicle information (color, make, and model).
- We will email you a history form to complete prior to your appointment. It is essential that you have this form completed at the time of your arrival.
- We will monitor for new clients to enter the parking lot. If our staff members are working with patients and are not available to greet you at your car, call us at (651) 645-2808. Please be patient as we try to manage an excessively high call volume at this time. We hope to add a more convenient texting option through the PetDesk app soon and will let you know if/when that is an option.
- A veterinary assistant or technician will retrieve your history form, discuss your goals for the visit, and bring your pet into the building.
It is absolutely necessary for your pet to be in a carrier or on a leash with a properly fitting collar. Your pet may be uncertain about what is happening, and we all need to work together to make sure that no pet escapes from a vehicle or slips out of a poorly fitting collar. We may add an additional slip leash for your dog for added protection.
- The doctor will perform an examination and any pre-authorized procedures or treatments. If additional conversation is necessary, we will call you. (Note: We are exploring options to allow you to be on speakerphone during the visit.)
- We will return to your car with your pet along with your medications, preventatives, products, and discharge instructions.
- We will obtain payment from you via phone or our wireless credit card terminal. As always, we also accept cash or checks.
If your pet is fearful, aggressive, or does not do well without you present, please discuss this with us at the time of scheduling so that we can discuss options.
- Visits to our St Francis Integrative Services location will be handled in the same manner, though due to the traffic from surrounding businesses in the parking lot, we ask you to hand your pet off to us at the door. You are welcome to wait in your vehicle or plan to return 45 minutes later. We will call you when we have finished your pet’s treatment.
- In general, we recommend that you delay routine appointments, grooming appointments, non-essential technician appointments, and other non-essential visits until the school closures are lifted to minimize unnecessary exposure to our staff.
Medications, Pet Food, and Other Products
As noted above, you will not be allowed to enter the building to retrieve your pet’s medications, food, or other products.
- Please call ahead at least 24 hours in advance for all medications, pet food, or products. This will allow us adequate time to have everything ready for you.
- When you arrive, call us at (651) 645-2808. Please be patient as we try to manage an excessively high call volume at this time. We hope to add a more convenient texting option through the PetDesk app soon and will let you know if/when that is an option.
- We will bring everything to your car for you.
- We will obtain payment from you via phone or our wireless credit card terminal. As always, we also accept cash or checks.
We also offer a convenient online store on our website. Visit www.stfrancisanimalandbird.com and click on Vetsource Online Store. For first-time users, you may enter either HURRAY25 or AWESOME25 for 25% off your first order through the end of March. Items will be billed and shipped to your home, but purchases will still benefit St Francis directly.
Safety Precautions: Cleaning and Disinfection
Veterinary practices routinely disinfect with products that are virucidal – this means that they destroy viruses. We use REScue, an accelerated hydrogen peroxide disinfectant. Rescue is effective against coronavirus COVID-19 as per the Center for Biocide Chemistries, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the CDC.
We are taking additional precautions with regards to cleaning and disinfection including regular cleaning of all door handles, light switches, pens, computer keyboards, and telephones.
Other Preparations
The CDC suggests that families have a two-week supply of food, prescriptions, and pet supplies available in the event that you become sick and are quarantined within your home. Please contact us if you need to order your pets’ medications, food, or other supplies. We also encourage you to visit our online store on our website at www.stfrancisanimalandbird.com.
We are continuously reviewing potential supply chain issues and purchasing surplus orders of critical medications and medical supplies as deemed appropriate. We will keep you updated on any backorder situation that may affect your pet.
Interacting With Pets
At this time, experts have not expressed concern about transmission to or from animals. Multiple international health organizations have indicated that pets and other domestic animals are not considered at risk for contracting COVID-19 or spreading COVID-19.
However, if you are infected with COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control is recommending that you limit contact with pets just as you would limit contact with other humans. When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid close contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food.
Additional Resources
CDC: Coronavirus COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
AVMA: What Do You Need To Know About Coronavirus?
https://www.avma.org/blog/what-do-you-need-know-about-coronavirus?inf_contact_key=1c317f3db5a4c53643f6de4621d73697
MN Board of Animal Health: Coronavirus Disease 2019
https://www.bah.state.mn.us/covid-19/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&inf_contact_key=c2379d7af511af125bc2396cc3f75d15
World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus Disease Advice for the Public: Myth Busters
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters?inf_contact_key=0b28854d1c48d3a6bbd69d4929ae18ec
CDC: Hand-Washing Guide
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&inf_contact_key=0f64a409b89b1aa28cec3d5c263ef242
We ask for your understanding and patience as we balance caring for your pets and keeping our community safe. Please continue to visit our website, social media channels, and PetDesk for additional information as this situation rapidly unfolds. If you have any questions, please reach out to us via phone (651-645-2808) or email (group@stfrancisabh.com).
Wishing you all good health!
Sincerely,
The Doctors and Staff at St Francis Animal Hospital