With the lockdown easing slightly at the moment, I'd be interested to know what vets in YOUR area are currently doing now.   I just checked on my vet's website and they have gone back to how it was early days with Covid 19 - coming out to take your dog in from the car, by an allocated slot, examining/treating and then bringing the patient back to the car, presumably with the results of the examination.  

I need to have a face to face talk with my vet at the time the examination is done re my Whippet who was diagnosed with a non-treatment murmur.   I think she needs another dental and she has a fleshy growth on her front left leg that I'd love to have taken off if she's put under a g/a for a dental.   I'd also like to know what condition her heart is currently in.

Are you getting to see your vet where you are yet?

Mine gave always come out to collect the animal and have a chat in the carpark. Nothing has changed in that respect

Our consultations have been held in the car park, a chat and a superficial look at the problem area. The vet then took my lad into the surgery for a thorough examination, then brought him back out to discuss the best line of treatment - in our case it has turned out to need an operation. A nurse brought out meds and booked the appointment for the op. Surprisingly relaxed, but the weather was good, I don't know how they would cope in a thunderstorm! I paid by debit card - they had a portable terminal.

Mine is still the same as others have said. Yes seeing my vet   Face to face i in the carpark but at social distance probably still 2 meters . Ive done it with my cat . if the animal has to be examined as it sounds that Teazel will have to be then the vets are taking them into the consult rooms having discussed with you either by phone or  in the car park the issues  and then returned to your car and more discussion can take places.

Tbh as long as the weather isnt against you its not a lot different to normal except in  an outside place and you cant hold your animal when they are examining them.
I am sure if you ring them and share your concerns they will reassure you .

vets near here (not mine) handed someones cat back in his carrier outside in carpark which the vet had failed to secure properly- the recently operated on cat sprang out and fled over fence and was gone in a strange area he did not know.  cue facebook search and thankfully he was eventually spotted late that night and recaptured.

How awful so glad the cat was eventually found and hopefully was ok .

Glad too that the cat was recovered.   Bit careless not to secure the carrier

I think I'll give them a call and discuss what can be done for Teazel.   However, as it's (hopefully) not what I'd call urgent right now, I may wait until I can be there when she's examined.  I was just interested to see how other vets were reacting, so far, to the unlocking.

Just thought .up to now appointments are supposed to be emergencies only so a phone call is probably best to check if that's changed at all.

Two vets where I live are now allowing one person to go into the practice with the pet. Unfortunately my own vet isn't yet...

I totally agree with all of you.  I would have thought that with lockdown easing the vets could try for a bit more normality.  Yesterday I took one of my dogs for her injections,  I was the only one waiting in the carpark and was on time but it was 15 minutes before the vet came to fetch the dog.  She only needed her annual jab - £90.  Good heavens.

However I also have Grace my sheltie who has arthritis and a heart murmur and needs a decent consultation and not in the car park.  I cannot see why my dog and I yesterday could not have sat in the empty waiting room at least even if I was not allowed in the treatment room.  Also my vets have decided that because of the current situation they can no longer offer emergency cover.  All very disappointing and a poor showx

> I cannot see why my dog and I yesterday could not have sat in the empty waiting room at least

I guess because an empty waiting room is not actually empty, there are reception staff usually just over a counter, no point exposing them to risk if not necessary. Also if you're in the waiting room, touching door handles, a seat, it's more cleaning.

Well we went down to 'kick tyres' at our nearest Peugeot Dealership this morning.   We made an appointment and wearing our masks, went in to find a small table with hand sanitizer on it (smelt awful).  The dealer we saw had a large clear glass screen across the front of his desk and actually he didn't insist on our wearing our marks.   I can't see why vets can't do this, at least for a consultation although I suppose chairs etc still have to be cleaned.   I was relieved to find the toilets open!!   Literally

I am really hoping our vets gets a little more normal soon as I wish to get our whippet spayed in August so as to be 3 months past her season.  At the moment they are not doing any elective surgery ...

I like this new arrangement.  My dog needs her teeth cleaned.  Appointment booked.  Park in car park. Nurse comes out takes dog in. Better than sitting in a waiting room with out of control animals and surgery running behind time. Even in emergency.  Phone up.   Arrive.  It works better.  Keep it up.

> I can't see why vets can't do this, at least for a consultation although I suppose chairs etc still have to be cleaned.

You need to ask that of the BVA, who dictate how many non-staff are allowed onto the premises.

I have found these arrangements work well  as long as you don't have an animal that you feel benefits from having the owner close by when it's being examined

I would have thought that if your car allows the dog to be in the boot area it's worth asking the vet if they can examine and chat with you in the carpark with masks if everyone feels happier and at 2 metres  .being  outside is considered best anyway
I know people whoose animals are examined like this even before as they are so unhappy  in the consult room .
Mine told me yesterday that they are slowly being  able to do more and more consults and not just for emergencies as they were .
Most vets are very accommodating I've found .

I agree lkj it's seems much smoother and less time waiting around .
The hospital's where possible are doing phone consults with us humans too . Very efficient and saves travelling to  hospital's sometimes  at a distance

I'd add that what the official stuff says on websites etc might not be what is happening either! I emailed our vet about taking our pup in for initial vaccinations and was told (by reception staff) the best they could do was for us to stand on one side of an open door which opens directly into the consult room, whilst the vet sees the pup on the table in the consult room. So - not exactly close enough to be hands on or involved but at least seeing what's happening. 

Down I went, expecting this... only for the vet to say they weren't that 'bothered' about the door thing and we could come in - and it was basically like a normal consult. We both wore masks, but that was because I opted to rather than because I was requested to...

Just had a phone call from our vets to say they are now doing more routine stuff and that my dog was due her boosters and did we want them done. Yup.

They also have a groomers there which is also up and working so she will have a once over and a nail trim whilst she’s there. A mask must be worn if entering the vets, otherwise wait in the car park for someone to come out and collect the dog.

Just thinking about what I said.  My vet has a car park which is secure but my neighbours vet is right on the pavement so she can be parked a long way down the road so not practical.

What I am finding really annoying is the opportunity for vets to do the telephone consultations and charge £25 for it.   My Sister's dog has a cyst type lump on his chin.  She sent photos and asked for an appointment so someone could take a look.  They insisted on a telephone consultation ... for a cyst where they have the photos.  A friend also had to have a £30 telephone conversation for a possible ear infection for her boy...   if a diagnosis of an ear infection can be given on a phone they must have developed super powers during this crisis.   Thank goodness my vet has continued to work giving car park consultations and taking pets without insisting on telephone consultations.

Trying to be a bit 'generous' re vet costs, I suppose it will be found that they are perhaps not as busy as they were before the lock-down (people may not be as quick to rush to the vet for small problems?) so they have to make an income to pay their bills still?   I know my vet's practice closed all 3 of the 4 branches at first (they have now opened one of the 3 again) and laid off all but a few vets.

Mine is charging, or was, £25 for a phone consultation + medication as needed.   I've not been near them since we lost Frankie on April 23.   The longest time I've not been in there!   Their income from me has been vastly reduced but then Teazel Whippet only ever went in for her corns.

I kid you not my vets said they have never been as busy. Everyone is home and wanting everything done be it flea and wormer or noticing actually their pet has a problem they've not noticed before. Compared to last year they are up i think I was told 1000 calls extra a week.
So they are mega busy

Just phoned my vet to book my bitch in to be spayed .She is at midpoint between seasons so I do not wish to lose this chance as I fear virus situation in 6 months in winter may be pretty bad and services interrupted more.  They told me the local (large) branch is not doing any surgery as they have promised to hold the oxygen there free in case NHS needs it. They don't know when they will be doing any surgeries again there.   said might be able to book her into their other branch on other side of city- a long way away

so have called other local vet who thankfully is doing neutering, will be social distanced, everyone masked,owners possibly not allowed into building depending on how virus situation is.   have registered her there and booked her in for 18th.

I am not impressed with original vet- what if my girl had an accident and I'd rushed her there only to be told oh sorry nothing requiring sedation available?. I really do think they should have emailed to let clients know so we could make alternative arrangements.  All my original vet seemed to be able to offer was pharmacy services rather then actual veterinary services.

I have just changed my vets !!!
Practise had a branch in the village, clinics am & pm 5 days/week then they were sold to a chain ......... 4 shorter clinics a/week ............. then due to covid they shut 2 branches inc mine and main is about 12 miles away then my usual vet left!    Zuma knew her and she knew Zuma ( and accepted I knew a little and knew Zuma better than she did)

I needed more Gabapentin so rang for repeat, apparently 23 Jan is MORE than 6 months after 6 July and the fact he was seen in March 'doesn't count' - talk about unhelpful and obstructive

I have now found where favourite vet went (also 12 miles away) and followed, Obviously they had to see Zuma as a new patient to prescribe so went over and they couldn't have been more helpful also no problem with a written prescription when previous had got VERY reluctant recently.

They took him in and I waited in carpark, talking to 2 other people (at a distance) and BOTH had also moved from my previous practice one when they were sold and one later ....... one comment was 'I wouldn't take a dead cat to them now' !!!

>ey told me the local (large) branch is not doing any surgery as they have promised to hold the oxygen there free in case NHS needs it. They don't know when they will be doing any surgeries again there.

That's quite true; at the start of all this unpleasantness all vet practices were banned from doing any elective surgery in case the NHS needed the oxygen for people. We're gradually being allowed to do more but still mainly emergencies, or conditions that are likely to become emergencies if not treated in time.

>what if my girl had an accident and I'd rushed her there only to be told oh sorry nothing requiring sedation available?

Sedation is different to general anaesthesia; no oxygen is required.

My vet practice was also recently sold to one of these massive corporate chains. It's so sad, what is happening to vets in the UK. Have a read of this: https://www.doglistener.co.uk/veterinary-profession-broken  I don't agree with Stan Rawlinson on many things but I do on that.

I moved to another independent vet in the area and am very happy. But it's so hard to spot these corporate practices in the first place because it's kind of hidden that they are owned by chains...

My vet is still independent but I know he has been losing out since a Pets at Home and it’s vets opened up a year or two ago. I hope he can keep going as an independent and that the lockdown doesn’t prove to be the proverbial straw and camel.
There is, as far as I know, just one other independent vets in town. The other one was bought up by a chain and promptly closed last year.