Veterinary Emergency, Critical Care & Referral Center

***COVID-19 UPDATE***

April 15, 2021

At the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (VECC), we are continually concerned for the health and safety of our clients and staff. Until further notice, we will continue to offer curbside service to all of our clients. 

"CURBSIDE? But I'm already vaccinated!"

Here is why VECC continues to provide curbside care:

1. Not all of our staff has been vaccinated.
2. Some of our staff cannot be vaccinated. 
3. The CDC still recommends maintaining social distancing in all public settings even if you are fully vaccinated. 
4. The vaccine prevents you from getting critically ill. It does not prevent you from carrying and/or spreading the virus to others.
5. VECC sees many out-of-state visitors - we treated more than twice as many out-of-state patients in 202 as we did in 2019. Our risk of exposure is high, and we need to protect ourselves so we can remain open to care for your pets. 
6. We do not want to be the "vaccine police" and ask clients to present vaccine cards. We choose to treat all our clients equally. 

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone safe as we treat our patients!

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At the Veterinary Emergency, Critical Care & Referral Hospital, we are concerned about the health and safety of our clients as well as our staff. During this time, it is essential that each of us practice simple, preventative measures as recommended by public health authorities.

We have advised our employees of personal hygiene and social distancing techniques and have provisioned our workplaces with sanitary supplies to inhibit the spread of the virus at work and in the community.

Human health and safety are our number one priority. To that, we have instituted policies that protect our staff, our clients, and our patients. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in safeguarding the health of our community.

At this time, until the end of March:

1. Traffic flow through the clinic will be restricted to staff only unless through extreme exceptions or a dire emergency.
   
   
2. Appointments will be seen on a drop off basis. When you arrive, you should call the clinic 603-431-3600 to notify our staff of your planned arrival. One of our staff members will go to your car and retrieve your pet, as well as take a thorough history. You may leave and return later or wait if you prefer.
   
   
3. We ask that if you have an appointment, and are ill, please contact us so we can reschedule or take appropriate measures such as to request that you have a neighbor or friend bring your pet.
   
   
4. No further elective (non-urgent) surgical procedures will be scheduled during this time frame in order to preserve PPE and consumables that are already in limited supply. These items must be reserved and available for critical cases. This is per the recommendation of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

With the rapid developments related to this virus and the concerns people everywhere share over its spread, it is important that we all work together to prevent and eradicate it as quickly as possible. We want you to know that we truly recognize that your pet is a part of your family and that we care about the well-being of your pet as well as your own health and safety above all else.

We will continue to monitor the circumstances and changing developments daily and provide any necessary updated information regarding our policies. All information will also be updated both on our Facebook page.

We thank you again for your understanding and cooperation at this most difficult time. Together we are stronger and working together we will save lives.

Coronavirus and Your Pet
By Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT Senior Consulting Veterinarian, Clinical Toxicology
Source: PET POISON HELPLINE ®

Coronavirus is a type of virus consisting of numerous strains that have been seen in animals including dogs, cats, cattle and chickens. These strains can cause gastrointestinal or respiratory illness, including Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in cats. Vaccinations have been used to prevent the common companion animal strains for decades.

Coronaviruses have zoonotic potential, meaning they can spread from animals to humans, but are not commonly spread from human to human. However, with the new 2019-nCoV virus, the original source is still unknown and the ability for this virus to spread from humans to animals has not yet been shown; information regarding this outbreak is continuing to evolve. According to the CDC, at this point, there is no evidence to suggest animals or animal products pose a risk for spreading or contracting this infection, including those from China. While this virus seems to have originated from an animal source, it is now spreading from person-to-person but at this time, there is no indication that animals or pets in the United States would be a concern as a source of infection with this new coronavirus.

If you or someone you know is ill and are concerned that it may be due to 2019-nCoV, the CDC recommends that you do not handle pets or other animals while sick. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with 2019-nCoV, several types of coronaviruses can cause illness in animals and spread between animals and people. Until more information becomes available, the CDC recommends avoiding contact with animals if you are potentially ill with 2019 n-CoV and wearing a facemask if you must be around animals or care for a pet.

For the most up to date information regarding coronavirus, please visit these sites as new information is frequently released:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
or the World Health Organization’s website:
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

Pet Poison Helpline is available 24/7 for pet owners and veterinary professionals. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com

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The area's most comprehensive diagnostic, surgical and intensive care hospital for pets.

Veterinary Emergency Critical Care & Referral Center is the leading trauma and emergency care animal hospital in the region.  We've been part of the community for over two decades and have highly skilled, board certified and residency trained doctors available seven days a week to serve your needs.  Our specialists are also here to offer advanced medical testing and treatments, supplementing the services that your pet's regular veterinarian provides.

Specialists and departments at VECC include: internal medicine, ophthalmology, neurology, cardiology, critical care, surgery, dermatology, oncology (cancer treatment)  and diagnostic imaging (radiology interpretations, ultrasound, MRI and more).  We offer the most technological services available in order to quickly assess your pet's health, while providing a calming, healing environment to both pets and pet owners.

VECC values our relationship with referring veterinarians, clients and the surrounding community as a whole, and our promise is to foster an environment built on respect, trust, communication, teamwork and education.  

We are also extremely proud of our exceptional team members and animal hospital, through which we provide cost-effective, quality care to the pets of New England 24-hours a day.
 
Please call us to discuss your specific needs.
(603) 430-PETS