CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19 AT OUR PRACTICE:
AS WE ARE STAYING OPEN TO PROVIDE SERVICES WE ARE ASKING THE FOLLOWING:
1. We are asking that you call the office at: 856-256-8996 when you arrive in the parking lot. At that time we will discuss a treatment plan for your pet. When advised, please bring your pet to the front door, from here our staff will take your pet and provide necessary services. Payment will be taken over the phone. One of our staff members will bring your pet back out to you along with any medications and your receipt.
2. For everyday prescription pick up: Please call us when you arrive and we will take payment over the phone and bring the medication(s) out to you.
3. Updated business hours to accommodate the new curfew restrictions:
• Monday–Thursday 8am-7pm
• Friday 8am-6pm
• Saturday 9am-2pm
Updated on April 22, 2020- 2 pet cats have tested positive in New York for Covid-19. They are expected to make a full recovery. There is no need to panic because there is absolutely no evidence pets can transmit Covid-19 to humans. These cats were exposed to Covid-19 positive owners. While one of our outside labs is making Covid-19 testing available for pets it is expensive and we are following recommended guidelines for when to test and when not to test. Below are veterinarian guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association:
Routine testing of animals for COVID-19 is not recommended by the AVMA, CDC, USDA, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV), or the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials. Because the situation is ever-evolving, public and animal health officials may decide to test certain animals. In the United States, the decision to test should be made collaboratively between the attending veterinarian and local, state, and/or federal public health and animal health officials.
Current expert understanding is that SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted person-to-person. There is no evidence that animals can transmit this virus to people. In rare instances, people have spread the virus to certain animals.
The clinical picture of SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals is not well-described, because there have been so very few cases in animals. Based on what is known from experimentally induced SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals, those few SARS-CoV-2 infections that animals have incidentally acquired from people, and what is known about other coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-1), animals may present with a combination of fever, lethargy, and clinical signs of respiratory (e.g., coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, nasal discharge) and/or gastrointestinal (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea) illness. These clinical signs are not at all unique to SARS-CoV-2 and, as such, veterinarians are strongly encouraged to rule out more common causes of these clinical signs in animals before considering testing for SARS-CoV-2. The CDC, USDA, and other federal partners have created guidance, including a table of epidemiological risk factors and clinical features for SARS-CoV-2 in animals to help guide decisions regarding animal testing.
Discussion among key regulatory authorities and animal health experts (USDA, CDC, FDA, NASPHV, National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials [NASAHO], AVMA) indicates that testing may be justified for certain animals in the following situations:
Animal has clinical signs consistent with SARS-CoV-2, more common causes of the patient’s clinical signs have been ruled out, and the animal has a history of
Close contact with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, or
Exposure to a known high-risk environment where a human outbreak occurred, such as a residence, facility (e.g., nursing home, prison), or cruise ship
Atypical patterns of disease suggesting a novel pathogen in a mass care situation (e.g., animal shelter, boarding facility, animal feeding operation, zoo) where exposure history is not known (appropriate diagnostics should be undertaken first to rule out more common causes of illness)
Threatened, endangered, or otherwise imperiled/rare animals in rehabilitation or zoological settings that have clinical signs or are asymptomatic and have had possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through an infected person or animal
Atypical pattern of disease suggesting infection with SARS-CoV-2 in recently imported animals (appropriate diagnostics should be undertaken first to rule out more common causes of illness)
Testing is part of an approved research project gathering scientific information to better understand if and how animals might be affected by SARS-CoV-2 and help clarify the role, if any, of pets in human COVID-19. Approved animal care and use and biosafety protocols are required.
The decision to test an animal should be made collaboratively between the attending veterinarian and local, state, and/or federal public health and animal health officials after careful and deliberate consideration of available guidance and the criteria above. If it is determined that testing an animal for SARS-CoV-2 is appropriate, it will be necessary to coordinate that testing with these individuals. Please refer to USDA’s frequently asked questions for sample collection, transport, storage, and reporting of results. If samples are sent to state animal health, university, or private laboratories for initial testing, all samples should be collected by a licensed and, preferably, USDA-accredited veterinarian and in duplicate because positive samples must be confirmed through additional testing by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). The USDA is responsible for reporting any animal that tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the United States to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Again, routine testing of animals for SARS-CoV-2 is NOT recommended. Purpose for testing (which is a key consideration when establishing objectives for the sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test) has not been established for SARS-CoV-2 testing in animals. In addition, limited resources are available to maintain core animal health functions and capacities for ongoing animal health emergencies while officials are also assisting colleagues working to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in people. As such, testing of animals in large numbers will compete for, and diminish, resources available for responding to human needs and may cause harm to the welfare of animals, especially pets (potential relinquishment, abandonment, or euthanasia). As previously mentioned, COVID-19 is an OIE notifiable disease and presumptive positive results require confirmation by the USDA NVSL. Confirmatory testing through the USDA NVSL is not currently available for non-mammalian animals, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, or fish.
INQUIRER.COM
How to take your pet to the vet during the coronavirus pandemic
We at All Creatures Veterinary Care Center wanted to inform you that we continue to take the proper precautions to fight against the Corona Virus outbreak. We had a company called Antimicrobial Application LLC come and treat our entire facility with their one of a kind patented disinfectant and antimicrobial product, produced by Via Clean Technologies LLC right here in Philadelphia.
Antimicrobial Applications LLC is an antimicrobial treatment company that uses a new technology that kills all viruses (including Covid-19), bacteria, mold algae, fungi, yeast and mildew on any surface it is applied to.This treatment after applied lasts an EPA certified 90 days even in high traffic and high touch areas. If interested in having your home, business etc treated please email antimicrobialapp@gmail.com
In these challenging times, our All Creatures Veterinary Care Center purpose of providing compassionate state-of-the-art veterinary care has never been more important. I want to assure you we are committed to being there for our clients and their loving animal companions especially during times when they need us the most. We recognize that things are changing rapidly now but please know one thing--We will do our best to be there for those that need us, when they need us, as long as we can.
Everyone knows that our staff are the heart and soul All Creatures Veterinary Care Center . Our staff are rising to the occasion by providing the important sense of comfort and security for our clients and community. Since the beginning of this COVID-19 impact, our team has been making sure that every area of the hospital is sanitized continually throughout the day. We have remained in contact with state and local health agencies to monitor developments and receive guidance. In addition, I want to share precautionary measures that we have taken to reinforce our already strong processes:
• Increasing the frequency of cleaning high touch surfaces
• Making hand sanitizer available for clients use
• Strengthening our pharmaceutical and medical supplies continuity to ensure that our hospital remains stocked with the necessities to continue to provide complete veterinary services
• Providing constant updates and safety tips anyone can use to limit the spread of any virus or infection. The tip sheets are available at the front area of the hospital
Our hearts go out to every community and every family that has been impacted by COVID-19. You have the thoughts of the entire All Creatures Veterinary Care Center team with you. The power and resilience of our community and nation never ceases to amaze me. I have no doubt that together -- we will stand tall, step up and persevere as one.
Michael Weiss DVM
Owner
All Creatures Veterinary Care Center
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Best of Washington Township
We will be closing from Monday 1/18 thru Wednesday 1/20 and will reopen Thursday January 21st. Due to our Covid 19 protocol regarding a staff members exposure we are closing to clean and sanitize the facility to ensure continual safety for our staff and clients. All appointments for 1/18-20 are being rescheduled. For emergencies please contact Mt Laurel Animal Hospital at 856-234-7626 or Penn Vet at 215-898-4685. Please stay safe. We are sorry for this inconvenience but the well being of our staff and clients is our top priority.
