Post Covid-19?
Well, the pandemic is not over, but it certainly has lessened. We have stopped our required mask policy, so you can see our smiling faces, once again! Of course, for your comfort or medical needs, all clients are free to wear a mask at their option, and we will don our masks as required, to meet your needs.
Fall 2022 Covid-19 UPDATE
We have been open to clients coming in for a few months now, but we are still offering curbside care as an option for clients that choose this for their personal reasons. We are maintaining a facemask policy for everybody's safety and in the reception area we are limiting to 2 clients at any time. We are very focused on staying on our schedule, so it is very rare for there to be any waiting for your appointment and there is never a crowd in our reception room.
In the examination room, where it is a little tighter for space, we ask that families limit themselves to 2 people in the exam room with Dr. Gold and staff at any one time.
All of our staff are vaccinated appropriately against Covid-19, we use disinfectants and hand sanitizers in order to maintain as safe an environment for you as possible.
We are in a much different place than we had been, here, on the other side of the of the Pandemic, but it is not over yet and we want nothing more than to keep everyone safe and healthy while caring for your special family members.
If you have any questions at all, about our protocols and processes, please do not hesitate to ask.
COVID-19 UPDATE
Here is an article written by Dr. Gold published in June 2020, by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario in their public Newsletter:
(Click on the link to see the full newsletter)
http://cvo.informz.ca/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjAzMzg4JnA9MSZ1PTkwNjQ3NzczNCZsaT0xOTI5MjQ0Mg/index.html
Practising companion animal veterinary medicine during a world health crisis
By: Dr. Lorie Gold
For the past 40 years veterinarians have been working hard to teach animal owners that the best care is preventative care. Years ago veterinarians used to practice medicine like firefighters did their work...putting out fires when they happened. In other words, when an animal got sick or injured, veterinarians would be called to diagnose and treat the illness or injury.
Preventative medicine is a different approach. With regular checkups and a program of care for each patient, veterinarians in recent decades could help to maintain the health of our patients in a more proactive manner. By conducting examinations on a regular basis we find out about problems while they are still minor and treatment planning prevents them from becoming major health issues. Wellness examinations and routine blood work detect diseases not yet showing any symptoms to their families. Vaccinating against common contagious, infectious diseases allows us to make these conditions rare. Dental care helps to maintain patient health. By prescribing anti-parasitic medications along with appropriate blood and fecal testing we prevent diseases caused by or passed on by parasites.
COVID-19 changed all of this. From a veterinary team’s perspective it has been like a step backwards in time. While veterinary care was deemed an “essential service” for the first week of the shut down associated with the pandemic (in Ontario), within a week we were restricted to “urgent care” only. This meant back to “putting out fires”; treating animals only as needed when families noted problems themselves.
The first changes we had to put into place were changes in support of social distancing. Veterinary teams always work hard to ensure that our reception areas are welcoming to clients, families and our patients. With the need to maintain social distancing, we suddenly had to introduce a whole new style of practice, called “curbside care”. This means that veterinary hospitals are keeping their front door locked, with clients no longer coming inside our hospitals. Instead, clients call from their cars when they arrive, a staff member wearing personal protective equipment goes out to the car, brings the pet into the hospital and the veterinarian conducts the examination while using the telephone to communicate with the client in the car.
The second major change that many practices put into place is a more regular use of telemedicine. In support of social distancing the College of Veterinarians of Ontario temporarily enhanced (during the pandemic) the ability of veterinarians to use telemedicine to help families and their pets. Telemedicine procedures give us the opportunity to diagnose and prescribe for patients without a physical examination, utilizing client’s observations, e-mailing of photos, videos and video-conferencing. Veterinarians are used to touching our patients. We look, palpate and even smell our patients as part of our diagnostic protocols. We run blood tests, urine tests, we take radiographs (X-rays) and we do ultrasound examinations. Treating patients by telemedicine is limited, as sometimes we need these diagnostic tests to accurately diagnose our patients and to set up a treatment plan. Telemedicine is a good tool, but it does have its limits, and therefore there are patients that need to be seen, to be helped. Using our curbside care protocols we manage to see these patients as needed.
For two months practices have been working harder for the care of less patients. Harder because of the work associated with ensuring an even higher level of disinfection than the already present hospital protocols. Harder as we work to schedule our hospitals, to try to maintain work for our wonderful caring staff, while managing the financial crisis of a limited practice. Harder while we wear personal protective equipment in our hospitals, trying to keep our staff and ourselves safe. By definition, when treating our patients, it is not possible to maintain two meters between team members. Generally at least one staff member is holding the patient while the veterinarian examines the patient and the veterinarian or the veterinary technician takes samples, run tests and administers medications.
On Thurs., May 14, 2020 the Premier of Ontario announced the government’s intention to allow veterinary medicine to go back to full service care starting May 19, 2020. Social distancing rules are appropriately still in place. Veterinary hospitals are generally not designed such that staff and clients can keep two metres spacing, so curbside care will still be the “new norm” for some time to come, certainly for months, possibly a year or more.
Veterinarians and their teams will now be transitioning to this next stage of practising during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will find that your veterinarian will be more readily available to you now with full hospital services but with appropriate protections and curbside care. Clients will continue to wait outside while their patients are assessed and cared for. Veterinary hospitals will be working through the steps needed to re-open closed practices, increase hours available, and to bring staff back to work.
COVID-19 pandemic protocols have put our profession through major changes. It has been stressful on many levels but veterinarians and our teams do have new procedures in place, and we will continue to be nimble in our approach to veterinary care so that you, your families and your pets can continue to receive the best veterinary care possible, as we all work to keep safe while we manage and go through this global pandemic.
Dr. Gold was 2nd vice-president of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario at the time this article was published. Dr. Gold is a companion animal veterinarian and he owns the Animal Hospital of River Oaks in Oakville.
HOSPITAL HOURS INCREASING
Hi River Oaks Families! This is a quick note to let you know that our hospital hours are being expanded. We are now offering full services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting today we are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. We hope to be available on Saturdays in the near future.
HEARTWORM REMINDER - DOG OWNERS
The warmer weather is activating the parasite that causes canine heartworm disease. If you have not yet booked an appointment to bring your dog in for testing and preventative medication please call or e-mail us as soon as possible.
TICK AND LYME DISEASE PREVENTION
A REMINDER: TICKS are very active at this time of year. For your dogs and cats we have preventative medication which will cause the ticks to die when they attempt to parasitize your pet. For dogs, we have a vaccine for LYME disease. Please ask us about tick medication and Lyme disease prevention.
LYME DISEASE IN PEOPLE
Please take the time to read the article on Ticks and Lyme disease from the Globe and Mail published yesterday:
Click here for article
COVID-19 UPDATE May 14, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENT Today the Premiere of Ontario announced the removal of the "Urgent Care" restriction from veterinary hospitals, starting Tuesday, May 19th.
FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CARE This means that starting this coming Tuesday we are back to offering "full service" veterinary care. We will no longer have to post pone your dog's blood parasite testing, nor will we need to wait to conduct any examinations, vaccinations, wellness care, or diagnostic testing of any of our patients.
SURGERY All surgical services are available again, including tumour removals, dental procedures, spays and neuters.
Boarding and Baths We will also once again be offering boarding and bathing services.
SOCIAL DISTANCING In support of provincial guidelines we will be maintaining social distancing. This means that we will be still be offering the same "curb side care" that we have been offering for the last 2 months. When you arrive at the hospital, we ask you to call our receptionist from your cell phone. One of our staff {wearing personal protective equipment) will come to you in order to bring your pet in to the hospital. We will then speak on the phone as we conduct the examinations, blood testing and treatments.
MyVetStore Also in support of social distancing we continue to recommend that you use our MyVetStore for on line ordering of pet foods and supplies, to be delivered right to your home (or cottage, for those people who will be at their cottages). Please click on the link in the center top of the home page of this website to register for home delivery of needed pet foods and products.
HOURS Currently Monday to Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm
Stay well, stay safe, and we will see you and your special family members very soon, here at the Animal Hospital of River Oaks
COVID-19 UPDATE May 12, 2020
HEARTWORM SEASON June 1st is rapidly approaching and as our dog owning families know, HEARTWORM SEASON is from June through to and including November. As a reminder, heartworm disease is predominantly a dog disease that is literally a disease of worms in the heart, which they get from mosquito bites. This serious and potentially deadly disease gets passed on through bites from infected mosquitos. The parasite is warm weather temperature dependent, and that is why we have the seasonal nature of the disease. You do want your dog protected, starting June 1st.The normal veterinary process is to run a blood parasite test every spring on every dog, before starting his or her heartworm preventative medication. This year because of the current COVID-19 protocols in place the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association has published a suggested guide advising veterinarians to dispense the medication for our patients, so that disease can be prevented, and we will "catch up" with the blood test as soon as the "urgent care" restrictions are lifted.
Please click this link for a short video we have recorded on heartworm disease and the prevention of this serious condition in your beloved dog.
Youtube Video - Dr. Gold discusses Heartworm
Please e-mail or phone us so that we can prepare the prescription for your dog. We have a number of preventative medications available. Many of our families will want to stay with the same medication that their dog had last year, but there are a number of options to consider. Please watch the quick video that we have prepared for you, (with the above link) and then reach out to us so that we can help you to protect your special canine family member.
TICK TALK. Ticks have become common. We are seeing ticks on our patients every week. We have medication available that kills ticks when they bite our pets. Some of the Heartworm prevention medications also kill ticks. You will hear more from us about ticks in a later newsletter. Please click on the following link for a very short video on TICKS
You Tube Video - Dr. Gold briefly discusses TICKS
URGENT CARE RESTRICTIONS are still in place. Our veterinary hospital is open to see patients, for urgent care. The decision on whether the concern is urgent or not is to be determined on a case by case basis, so please call or e-mail your every concern and we will help you by deciding if it is a matter than can be postponed, helped via a telemedicine consultation or whether your pet should be presented for a full physical examination. As soon as the "URGENT CARE" restrictions are lifted and veterinary medicine goes back to "ESSENTIAL SERVICES", we will contact you to let you know that we will once again be able to accommodate wellness examinations, annual physical examinations with vaccination appointments and most importantly run the HEARTWORM blood testing.
HOURS 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, until further notice
April 24, 2020
Update Concerning Available Veterinary Services
and
News about discounts and free treats from MyVetStore
Dr. Gold and our team want to express our concern for your well being and safety. Continue to play it safe and follow the rules set out for the pandemic.
We, at the Animal Hospital of River Oaks, continue to do all that we can for our families and their pets.
MyVetStore. Since introducing our online web store 2 weeks ago, our clients have found it very convenient to use. When you log into *MyVetStore* to order foods, treats, toys and supplies... your order WILL BE DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR HOME.
All of the pet food companies (with the exception of Rayne at this time) have made discounts available when you put an AUTOORDER in place. This means that you never run out of food because the food will be delivered right to your door as you need it. There will be a 5% to 10% discount applied to all AUTOORDERS. Royal Canin is also offering a free bag of treats for your dog or cat with each purchase.
Registering is easy, and so is the shopping. You can go to our online store by clicking on the link on the home page of our website or by using the following link:
www.myvetstore.ca/riveroaksvet
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. Veterinary medicine is listed as an essential service in Ontario. Due to restrictions, we continue to provide "urgent care". As an executive member of the licensing body, Dr. Gold wants you to know that the College of Veterinarians of Ontario make it clear that they do not put out a list of services that can or cannot be performed. It is up to each veterinarian, in consultation with the pet owner, to determine whether the treatments, the surgeries or needed tests, that are being considered for a pet, are to be performed or if it is safe to wait. This is how "urgent" is defined.
The patients that need to be seen will still be seen by our "curbside care" protocol.
Surgeries that meet the above decisional process will be performed as required, .
CURBSIDE CARE. All medications and foods purchased at our hospital will be dispensed from the hospital using our social distancing procedures. Phone us when you arrive at the hospital; our receptionist will take payment over the phone and she will place the food outside the door and put the medications in our mailbox for you to pick up. We can also bring the medications/foods to your car, whichever is easier for you.
TELEMEDICINE. 905-338-6257 Dr. Gold continues to offer telemedicine consultations. These have proven to be a popular and convenient way for us to help you and your pets while maintaining excellent social distancing.
If during the telemedicine consultation it is determined that it is best that your pet be brought in for a physical examination, the fee for your telemedicine consultation will be credited towards the physical examination. This approach can reduce the costs of care for your special family member during the pandemic.
Hospital hours will continue to be limited. Currently we are open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Saturdays we will be closed until further notice.
We wish you and your families the very best during these difficult times.
http://www.myvetstore.ca/riveroaksvet
COVID-19 UPDATE APRIL 5 2020
The Animal Hospital of River Oaks is continuing do all that we can for our families and their pets.
In order to facilitate food orders and to help our clients maintain social distancing we are very happy to report that you can NOW SHOP ON LINE through our BRAND NEW WEBSTORE! FOODS YOU ORDER WILL BE DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR HOME. Registering is easy, and so is the shopping. We will send more information about OUR WEBSTORE, but in the meantime, you can go to our on line store by clicking on the link on our website or by using the following link:
www.myvetstore.ca/riveroaksvet
The Ontario Government has updated the essential services list for the province.
While veterinary medicine is still listed as an ESSENTIAL SERVICE, the limitation now is for URGENT CARE only. This means that for at least 2 weeks companion animal hospitals will not be providing routine preventative care, wellness examinations or boarding and grooming.
Urgent cases will still be seen by our “curbside care” protocol.
Only urgent surgeries will be performed, routine procedures will wait for the time being.
Prescription foods and medications will be dispensed as they have been, using our social distancing procedures – you phone us when you arrive, our receptionist will take payment over the phone and put the medication or foods outside for you to pick up.
Dr. Gold is continuing to offer telemedicine consultations.
Hospital hours will be limited starting Wednesday this week to be Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Saturdays we will be closed.
COVID-19 UPDATE MARCH 25 2020
The Animal Hospital of River Oaks is continually committed to the care of our patients and we are equally concerned about the ongoing well being of our families.
In the uncertain times of this COVID-19 pandemic, we want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to ensure your safety while having your pets presented to us for treatment and care.
We are seeing our patients using “curb-side” care. This means that our families are staying in their car, one of our staff bring your pet into the hospital for the examination and Dr. Gold communicates with you by telephone from the exam room to the car. This has been a very effective way of continuing our care of your special family members. We are able to offer our regular veterinary care, as well emergency presentations.
Surgical and diagnostic procedures are available at our hospital.
Another option for your family, is that Dr. Gold is also practicing by telemedicine. This means that with telephone consultations Dr. Gold can work with you to diagnose conditions and then he can prescribe for your pet. Clients have been sending in photos to help with the visualization of lesions or areas of concern, to help Dr. Gold in his assessment of your pet. As the 2nd Vice President of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, Dr. Gold is one of the decision makers that have allowed for veterinarians in Ontario to more easily practice using telemedicine. It is our plan to be here for you, our families, as we have been for 31 years..
Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call for ongoing care. We do have appointments available, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
For the immediate future, because of the COVID-19 protocols that we have in place, our hospital will be open the following hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm.
You can call, e-mail or contact us via our website or your Petly Page to request an appointment or medication refills or food orders. The products and medications that we normally carry are in stock and available for you.
Please stay safe, avoid crowds or large gatherings, wash and disinfect your hands often, and please call with any questions you have. As always, we want nothing but the very best for you and your families.
Animal Hospital of River OaksCOVID-19 UPDATE May 14, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENT Today the Premiere of Ontario announced the removal of the "Urgent Care" restriction from veterinary hospitals, starting Tuesday, May 19th.
FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CARE This means that starting this coming Tuesday we are back to offering "full service" veterinary care. We will no longer have to post pone your dog's blood parasite testing, nor will we need to wait to conduct any examinations, vaccinations, wellness care, or diagnostic testing of any of our patients.
SURGERY All surgical services are available again, including tumour removals, dental procedures, spays and neuters.
Boarding and Baths We will also once again be offering boarding and bathing services.
SOCIAL DISTANCING In support of provincial guidelines we will be maintaining social distancing. This means that we will be still be offering the same "curb side care" that we have been offering for the last 2 months. When you arrive at the hospital, we ask you to call our receptionist from your cell phone. One of our staff {wearing personal protective equipment) will come to you in order to bring your pet in to the hospital. We will then speak on the phone as we conduct the examinations, blood testing and treatments.
Also in support of social distancing we continue to recommend that you use our MyVetStore for on line ordering of pet foods and supplies, to be delivered right to your home (or cottage, for those people who will be at their cottages). Please click on the link in the center top of the home page of our website to register for home delivery of needed pet foods and products.
www.riveroaksveterinary.ca
HOURS Currently Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
Stay well, stay safe, and we will see you and your special family members very soon, here at the Animal Hospital of River Oaks
Hi River Oaks Families! This is a quick note to let you know that our hospital hours are being expanded. We are now offering full services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting today we are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. We hope to be available on Saturdays in the near future.
HEARTWORM REMINDER - DOG OWNERS
The warmer weather is activating the parasite that causes canine heartworm disease. If you have not yet booked an appointment to bring your dog in for testing and preventative medication please call or e-mail us as soon as possible.
TICK AND LYME DISEASE PREVENTION
A REMINDER: TICKS are very active at this time of year. For your dogs and cats we have preventative medication which will cause the ticks to die when they attempt to parasitize your pet. For dogs, we have a vaccine for LYME disease. Please ask us about tick medication and Lyme disease prevention.
LYME DISEASE IN PEOPLE
Please take the time to read the article on Ticks and Lyme disease from the Globe and Mail published yesterday:
Click here for article
COVID-19 UPDATE May 14, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENT Today the Premiere of Ontario announced the removal of the "Urgent Care" restriction from veterinary hospitals, starting Tuesday, May 19th.
FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CARE This means that starting this coming Tuesday we are back to offering "full service" veterinary care. We will no longer have to post pone your dog's blood parasite testing, nor will we need to wait to conduct any examinations, vaccinations, wellness care, or diagnostic testing of any of our patients.
SURGERY All surgical services are available again, including tumour removals, dental procedures, spays and neuters.
Boarding and Baths We will also once again be offering boarding and bathing services.
SOCIAL DISTANCING In support of provincial guidelines we will be maintaining social distancing. This means that we will be still be offering the same "curb side care" that we have been offering for the last 2 months. When you arrive at the hospital, we ask you to call our receptionist from your cell phone. One of our staff {wearing personal protective equipment) will come to you in order to bring your pet in to the hospital. We will then speak on the phone as we conduct the examinations, blood testing and treatments.
MyVetStore Also in support of social distancing we continue to recommend that you use our MyVetStore for on line ordering of pet foods and supplies, to be delivered right to your home (or cottage, for those people who will be at their cottages). Please click on the link in the center top of the home page of this website to register for home delivery of needed pet foods and products.
HOURS Currently Monday to Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm
Stay well, stay safe, and we will see you and your special family members very soon, here at the Animal Hospital of River Oaks
COVID-19 UPDATE May 12, 2020
HEARTWORM SEASON June 1st is rapidly approaching and as our dog owning families know, HEARTWORM SEASON is from June through to and including November. As a reminder, heartworm disease is predominantly a dog disease that is literally a disease of worms in the heart, which they get from mosquito bites. This serious and potentially deadly disease gets passed on through bites from infected mosquitos. The parasite is warm weather temperature dependent, and that is why we have the seasonal nature of the disease. You do want your dog protected, starting June 1st.The normal veterinary process is to run a blood parasite test every spring on every dog, before starting his or her heartworm preventative medication. This year because of the current COVID-19 protocols in place the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association has published a suggested guide advising veterinarians to dispense the medication for our patients, so that disease can be prevented, and we will "catch up" with the blood test as soon as the "urgent care" restrictions are lifted.
Please click this link for a short video we have recorded on heartworm disease and the prevention of this serious condition in your beloved dog.
Youtube Video - Dr. Gold discusses Heartworm
Please e-mail or phone us so that we can prepare the prescription for your dog. We have a number of preventative medications available. Many of our families will want to stay with the same medication that their dog had last year, but there are a number of options to consider. Please watch the quick video that we have prepared for you, (with the above link) and then reach out to us so that we can help you to protect your special canine family member.
TICK TALK. Ticks have become common. We are seeing ticks on our patients every week. We have medication available that kills ticks when they bite our pets. Some of the Heartworm prevention medications also kill ticks. You will hear more from us about ticks in a later newsletter. Please click on the following link for a very short video on TICKS
You Tube Video - Dr. Gold briefly discusses TICKS
URGENT CARE RESTRICTIONS are still in place. Our veterinary hospital is open to see patients, for urgent care. The decision on whether the concern is urgent or not is to be determined on a case by case basis, so please call or e-mail your every concern and we will help you by deciding if it is a matter than can be postponed, helped via a telemedicine consultation or whether your pet should be presented for a full physical examination. As soon as the "URGENT CARE" restrictions are lifted and veterinary medicine goes back to "ESSENTIAL SERVICES", we will contact you to let you know that we will once again be able to accommodate wellness examinations, annual physical examinations with vaccination appointments and most importantly run the HEARTWORM blood testing.
HOURS 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, until further notice
April 24, 2020
Update Concerning Available Veterinary Services
and
News about discounts and free treats from MyVetStore
Dr. Gold and our team want to express our concern for your well being and safety. Continue to play it safe and follow the rules set out for the pandemic.
We, at the Animal Hospital of River Oaks, continue to do all that we can for our families and their pets.
MyVetStore. Since introducing our online web store 2 weeks ago, our clients have found it very convenient to use. When you log into *MyVetStore* to order foods, treats, toys and supplies... your order WILL BE DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR HOME.
All of the pet food companies (with the exception of Rayne at this time) have made discounts available when you put an AUTOORDER in place. This means that you never run out of food because the food will be delivered right to your door as you need it. There will be a 5% to 10% discount applied to all AUTOORDERS. Royal Canin is also offering a free bag of treats for your dog or cat with each purchase.
Registering is easy, and so is the shopping. You can go to our online store by clicking on the link on the home page of our website or by using the following link:
www.myvetstore.ca/riveroaksvet
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. Veterinary medicine is listed as an essential service in Ontario. Due to restrictions, we continue to provide "urgent care". As an executive member of the licensing body, Dr. Gold wants you to know that the College of Veterinarians of Ontario make it clear that they do not put out a list of services that can or cannot be performed. It is up to each veterinarian, in consultation with the pet owner, to determine whether the treatments, the surgeries or needed tests, that are being considered for a pet, are to be performed or if it is safe to wait. This is how "urgent" is defined.
The patients that need to be seen will still be seen by our "curbside care" protocol.
Surgeries that meet the above decisional process will be performed as required, .
CURBSIDE CARE. All medications and foods purchased at our hospital will be dispensed from the hospital using our social distancing procedures. Phone us when you arrive at the hospital; our receptionist will take payment over the phone and she will place the food outside the door and put the medications in our mailbox for you to pick up. We can also bring the medications/foods to your car, whichever is easier for you.
TELEMEDICINE. 905-338-6257 Dr. Gold continues to offer telemedicine consultations. These have proven to be a popular and convenient way for us to help you and your pets while maintaining excellent social distancing.
If during the telemedicine consultation it is determined that it is best that your pet be brought in for a physical examination, the fee for your telemedicine consultation will be credited towards the physical examination. This approach can reduce the costs of care for your special family member during the pandemic.
Hospital hours will continue to be limited. Currently we are open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Saturdays we will be closed until further notice.
We wish you and your families the very best during these difficult times.
http://www.myvetstore.ca/riveroaksvet
COVID-19 UPDATE APRIL 5 2020
The Animal Hospital of River Oaks is continuing do all that we can for our families and their pets.
In order to facilitate food orders and to help our clients maintain social distancing we are very happy to report that you can NOW SHOP ON LINE through our BRAND NEW WEBSTORE! FOODS YOU ORDER WILL BE DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR HOME. Registering is easy, and so is the shopping. We will send more information about OUR WEBSTORE, but in the meantime, you can go to our on line store by clicking on the link on our website or by using the following link:
www.myvetstore.ca/riveroaksvet
The Ontario Government has updated the essential services list for the province.
While veterinary medicine is still listed as an ESSENTIAL SERVICE, the limitation now is for URGENT CARE only. This means that for at least 2 weeks companion animal hospitals will not be providing routine preventative care, wellness examinations or boarding and grooming.
Urgent cases will still be seen by our “curbside care” protocol.
Only urgent surgeries will be performed, routine procedures will wait for the time being.
Prescription foods and medications will be dispensed as they have been, using our social distancing procedures – you phone us when you arrive, our receptionist will take payment over the phone and put the medication or foods outside for you to pick up.
Dr. Gold is continuing to offer telemedicine consultations.
Hospital hours will be limited starting Wednesday this week to be Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Saturdays we will be closed.
COVID-19 UPDATE MARCH 25 2020
The Animal Hospital of River Oaks is continually committed to the care of our patients and we are equally concerned about the ongoing well being of our families.
In the uncertain times of this COVID-19 pandemic, we want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to ensure your safety while having your pets presented to us for treatment and care.
We are seeing our patients using “curb-side” care. This means that our families are staying in their car, one of our staff bring your pet into the hospital for the examination and Dr. Gold communicates with you by telephone from the exam room to the car. This has been a very effective way of continuing our care of your special family members. We are able to offer our regular veterinary care, as well emergency presentations.
Surgical and diagnostic procedures are available at our hospital.
Another option for your family, is that Dr. Gold is also practicing by telemedicine. This means that with telephone consultations Dr. Gold can work with you to diagnose conditions and then he can prescribe for your pet. Clients have been sending in photos to help with the visualization of lesions or areas of concern, to help Dr. Gold in his assessment of your pet. As the 2nd Vice President of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, Dr. Gold is one of the decision makers that have allowed for veterinarians in Ontario to more easily practice using telemedicine. It is our plan to be here for you, our families, as we have been for 31 years..
Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call for ongoing care. We do have appointments available, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
For the immediate future, because of the COVID-19 protocols that we have in place, our hospital will be open the following hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm.
You can call, e-mail or contact us via our website or your Petly Page to request an appointment or medication refills or food orders. The products and medications that we normally carry are in stock and available for you.
Please stay safe, avoid crowds or large gatherings, wash and disinfect your hands often, and please call with any questions you have. As always, we want nothing but the very best for you and your families.
Animal Hospital of River OaksCOVID-19 UPDATE May 14, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENT Today the Premiere of Ontario announced the removal of the "Urgent Care" restriction from veterinary hospitals, starting Tuesday, May 19th.
FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CARE This means that starting this coming Tuesday we are back to offering "full service" veterinary care. We will no longer have to post pone your dog's blood parasite testing, nor will we need to wait to conduct any examinations, vaccinations, wellness care, or diagnostic testing of any of our patients.
SURGERY All surgical services are available again, including tumour removals, dental procedures, spays and neuters.
Boarding and Baths We will also once again be offering boarding and bathing services.
SOCIAL DISTANCING In support of provincial guidelines we will be maintaining social distancing. This means that we will be still be offering the same "curb side care" that we have been offering for the last 2 months. When you arrive at the hospital, we ask you to call our receptionist from your cell phone. One of our staff {wearing personal protective equipment) will come to you in order to bring your pet in to the hospital. We will then speak on the phone as we conduct the examinations, blood testing and treatments.
Also in support of social distancing we continue to recommend that you use our MyVetStore for on line ordering of pet foods and supplies, to be delivered right to your home (or cottage, for those people who will be at their cottages). Please click on the link in the center top of the home page of our website to register for home delivery of needed pet foods and products.
www.riveroaksveterinary.ca
HOURS Currently Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
Stay well, stay safe, and we will see you and your special family members very soon, here at the Animal Hospital of River Oaks