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Covid-19 Update

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At Scott Veterinary Clinic, we are committed to the health of our clients and companion patients. As such, we are closely monitoring the developing COVID-19 crisis. At this time, we are committed to remain open to continue to serve the pet population of Brantford. On top of our current comprehensive cleaning and safety protocols, we have increased our efforts around the hospital to keep exposure to COVID-19 to a minimum.
 
What are we doing?

  • We use a known viricidal (virus killing) spray frequently on exposed surfaces – especially focusing in on the waiting room, the exam room, the surgical and treatment area, and other high-traffic areas of the hospital.

  • During the course of this epidemic, we will be using anti-bacterial wipes on all door handles between patients and on our payment processing machines after each use.

  • Our staff is highly educated in infection control measures for our veterinary patients, the majority of this knowledge which applies in this human-based crisis.

  • We are committed to continuing to see patients for all of accidents, emergencies, ailments and illnesses, HOWEVER we will be cancelling elective appointments and procedures until further notice.

What is the risk to our animals?

  • According to WHO, the risk of transmission from humans to cats and dogs is likely incredibly low (there has only been one case of a dog who tested ‘weak positive’ in Hong Kong) and the chance of them transmitting COVID-19 to us is exceedingly low, based on current information.

  • Despite this, they still recommend frequent handwashing around pets and discourage letting your dog and cat lick your face, until more is known.

  • Should you become ill, please treat your pets as any other family member and limit your contact with them as much as possible.

What can our clients do?
In order to keep us from having an exposure in hospital, we ask the following:

  • If you are in self-quarantine, we ask you not to bring yourself or pet in hospital. If it is life threatening pet emergency, we will provide directions on how to safely see your pet without exposing other individuals.

  • If you have travelled to an at risk area, have come into possible contact with a COVID-19 positive person, or have any sign of respiratory disease we ask you to delay any routine care or elective surgeries for your pet.

    • If your pet is sick and needs an appointment: We may ask you to drop off your pet for an exam and admit from your car and have a doctor or staff member take history over the phone.

  • We encourage you to use our provided antiseptic handwashing solutions around the hospital (there are some at reception and in each exam room), even if you feel completely healthy.

  • We would ask that you limit the amount of people coming into the clinic to one (1). Our staff is happy to help you if you need extra assistance coming or leaving the practice.

  • We continue to offer our online web store where you can have veterinary specific food delivered right to your door. Please phone our front desk for more information on this program!

We will continue to communicate with you on any changes to our COVID-19 plan by social media, or by our after-hours message.

From all of us at Scott Veterinary Clinic we wish you safety and health in these uncertain times.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Shannon Lee and the staff of Scott Veterinary Clinic

dog using a laptop computer

COVID-19

By Clinic news, In the news No Comments

With the recent concerns and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, we wanted to reach out to let each of you know that we remain open for business and are committed to helping keep both our clients and patients stay healthy during this turbulent time.

Of course, I would like to reassure you that we are taking every available precaution to help keep one another healthy. The health and well-being of our clients, staff and patients remains our utmost priority. While infection control measures are consistently in place to help prevent disease transmission within our office, we have enforced additional infection control guidelines to help ensure a safe environment for all.  

With this in mind, we ask that any client requiring an examination please follow social distancing guidelines whenever possible. If you are ill, or have recently travelled please call ahead so that we can make alternate arrangements to see your pet without putting your neighbours at risk.

Of course we understand that access to your pets’ nutritional requirements and medications is essential. At this time we would like to assure you that our Webstore is running efficiently and remind you that it is possible to have your foods and medications delivered to your door without having to leave the comfort of home. This service is available to you 24/7.   You can sign up here on our website or contact us if you have any questions.  To ensure that there is an adequate supply for all, we have limited transactions to a maximum of 2 bags of food per client per order.
Please bear with us as we navigate the ever evolving situation. If there are important updates we will ensure that you are kept up to date of any changes involving your pet’s care. In times like these we want you to know that we are here for you.

Thank you for continuing to entrust your pet’s healthcare to us.

Sincerely,

Dr. Shannon Lee  
Scott Veterinary Clinic

 

marijuana plant

Cannabis and CBD in Veterinary Medicine: What you need to know

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On October 17, 2018, the Canadian Federal government put into effect the Cannabis Act, which outlined the legalization of recreational use of cannabis. There are some questions and concerns from a veterinary standpoint on how the Cannabis Act impacts the health and wellness of pets here in Ontario.  This blog post will strive to unmuddy the waters of some of the most common questions regarding cannabis use in veterinary medicine.

Can my veterinarian prescribe cannabis for my pet?

There are currently no approved veterinary prescription drugs containing cannabinoids, including CBD (cannabidiol). Over the past years there has been growing interest in the use of cannabinoids in veterinary medicine. This is likely based on the increased use of cannabinoids in humans for their claims of pain relief, anti-inflammatory, anti-seizure, and more. This increase in interest for the medical use of cannabinoids in people as well as pets will likely lead to advancements in the research behind the use and safety for cannabinoids in veterinary medicine. Once the evidence is there, companies will begin to seek approval from Health Canada to permit veterinary use under the Act.

Once a drug that contains cannabis is approved by Health Canada for veterinary use, veterinarians will be able to prescribe it where appropriate.

There are products known as Veterinary Health Products (VHP) which are approved by Health Canada for sale in Ontario due to known low risks associated with these products. Hemp and hemp seed oil are both classified as a VHP. 

If I access cannabis myself, can my veterinarian advise me on how to safely give it to my pet?

Cannabis products obtained for people, both medical and recreational, contain many different phytocannabinoids, including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). There is currently no known safety and efficacy dosages for cannabis products in veterinary patients. This means that your veterinarian cannot provide evidence based dosing information for your pet at this time for cannabis products supplied for human-use. 

With regards to CBD products obtained for medical use, your veterinarian can investigate the product for a notification number. If the product contains a notification number, it is a Health Canada approved VHP. Your veterinarian can search this notification number online to find further information on the product.

 

My pet accidently gained access to a cannabis product, what should I do?

The two most commonly recognized cannabinoids are CBD and THC. CBD is recognized as having low/limited toxicity, while THC is recognized to have moderate toxicity. Your pet may show signs of toxicity within minutes to hours of ingestion, sometimes up to 12 hours after ingestion of the product. Common clinical signs of toxicity include lethargy, dazed expression, difficulty walking, and dribbling of urine. Severe intoxication can lead to seizures.

It is important to notify your veterinarian as soon as your pet is suspected to have ingested or been exposed to cannabis products. It is also very important to notify your veterinarian if the cannabis product was part of an edible product, such as a brownie or cupcake, which may contain other ingredients toxic to your pet, such as chocolate. Your veterinarian is entirely on your side, and just wants to get your pet feeling better! 

 

Information in this article is referenced from the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.  (https://cvo.org), and the Pet Poison Helpline (https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com)