With the Coronavirus situation developing almost daily, Kate and the team want to become your reliable reference point for all matters relating to the health of your pet/s.

To help us achieve this, we’ve created this simple Frequently Asked Questions article to help you access all our latest animal welfare information.  If you need to contact us, please call the surgery on 01202 747678.

Are you open?

As the lockdown is slowly relaxed, we are now able to accommodate more routine appointments and check ups, and encourage vaccinations, specially the overdue ones. We are also performing some surgeries.

We are still asking clients to stay in the car park, whilst we take the animals inside for examinations and treatments.

• Parkstone practice open as normal Monday – Friday (8am – 7pm) Saturday (8am – 4pm)
• Broadstone practice is re-opening from 7th September for the morning (9am – 12pm) and afternoon (2pm – 5pm) as usual

As a rule of thumb, if it is not urgent, then we’ll do it when restrictions are lifted.  If you’re unsure – call us on 01202 747678 before you travel.

If it’s an emergency – follow our normal emergency procedure

What about social distancing at the practice?

If you do have to visit the practice for any reason then, to help with social distancing, we have a number of different options now available to minimise human contact whilst ensuring your pet doesn’t miss out on vital pet care:

1. We can offer telephone consultations for many health issues, follow-up checks, and routine care.
2. Call us when you arrive and wait in the car to be called in for your appointment.
3. Bring your pet to our doors and we’ll hand them back after their examination.
4. Some medications can be ordered and paid for over the phone and contact can be kept to a minimum when collecting.
5. Non-urgent procedures ​and treatments​ will be postponed for now.
6. Talk to us on​ 01202 747678 about what’s best for your pet at this time.

Reasons YOUR PET should come to us include:

1. Emergencies such as wounds, shock, stings, snake bites, ingesting poisons, eating toxic food, seizures, bloating, trauma, etc.
2. They are undergoing treatment for a serious illness.
3. Unusual loss of appetite or a detrimental change in behaviour.
4. Their anal glands are blocked and causing discomfort – this can be painful and lead to infection

What should I do if I have a pet emergency?

Visit the ‘Emergency Care’ pages of our website and follow the instructions.

How do I access general preventative healthcare like vaccinations, flea & worm treatment?

These are still available on a case by case basis. Please contact us on 01202 747678 and we’ll tell you how to access what you need.

With stepped-up government measures in place and Coronavirus information changing daily, it’s no surprise pet owners are worried about their pets.

Firstly, it’s important not to panic. To date, there is no evidence confirming pets are a source of infection or can become sick from COVID-19 themselves.

That said, the Government and animal welfare charities have been issuing advice on how to care for and interact with pets during this uncertain time.

A general piece of advice everyone should follow is to adopt good hygiene practices i.e. thoroughly washing hands with soap and water before and after touching them, their toys, food and bedding. Also, you should avoid pet kisses and licks, and sharing food with them.

Read this RSPCA article on what to do about pet care if you’re asked to self-isolate, or if you/someone in your household gets sick.

Staying at home? Five tips for keeping your dog entertained

Whether you’re self-isolating or social distancing, we want you to know there are plenty of things you can do to keep your dog active and happy at home:

1. Do laps of your living room or garden a few times a day to keep (you and) your dog mentally stimulated and exercised.
2. Exchange your dog’s bowl for a toy, such as a Kong, or place their dry kibble around your house and garden so they have to think and work a little harder for their food.
3. Have fun together with a game of fetch or teach them a new trick or command – both will do wonders for mental stimulation and enjoyment.
4. Check out Spotify’s playlist ‘My Dog’s Favourite Podcast’, designed to encourage pet relaxation.
5. Less exercise means fewer treats or try switching to healthy ones like carrots and apples.

Remember, your dog will still need toilet breaks so ensure they have regular access to the garden for a potty break and a potter.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health, give our friendly team a call on 01202 747678.