Veterinary services are essential to safeguard animal health and welfare (and in food sectors – food safety & sustainability). For most of us in Singapore, animals are our companions and family. Their health and welfare are important to us and our wellbeing too.
In order to keep ourselves and our pets safe, veterinary practices will remain open but limited to emergency and urgent cases only. What makes a case urgent or an emergency?
(Following definitions adapted from British Veterinary Association website. See links.)
Emergency:
- Immediate threat to life
- Severe impact to animal’s health and welfare
- Rapid deterioration/debilitation
Urgent/Non-elective:
- Stable, not showing signs of animal dying
- But if left alone, causes significant impact on animal’s health and welfare
- Significant risk of deterioration/severe disease
Not Urgent/Elective:
- Stable, generally well and no impact on animal’s ability to survive
- No/minor impact to animal’s health and welfare
- No/low risk of deterioration
Please call/email us to triage/classify your pet’s case in order to determine if a physical consultation is required or not.
Following are useful links regarding COVID-19 and pets:
- SVA (Singapore Veterinary Association) Sample List of Essential/Non-essential services: https://sva.org/news/enhancedsafedistancing/
- AVS (Animal & Veterinary Service) Singapore Guidelines on “Circuit Break” period – essential/non-essential services: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/animals/animal-health-and-veterinarians/veterinary-licensing/covid-19-related-updates
- OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Q&A for Pet Owners: https://www.oie.int/en/scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/questions-and-answers-on-2019novel-coronavirus/
- AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association): https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19
- BVA (British Veterinary Association): https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-updates-for-the-veterinary-profession/