Non-Contact Consulting During COVID-19

Please read below for the latest update from Dr Melissa Kozaruk on COVID-19 at Erina Heights Veterinary Hospital, as we have made some important new changes.

First of all we are still open to take care of your pets, but in order to adhere to social distancing measures, do our bit to flatten the curve, and minimise the chance of our staff getting sick, we have made a couple of changes.

We are asking that if you are in self-isolation, are unwell or been overseas in the last 14 days that you don’t visit the clinic. Call us first so we can make arrangements if your pet needs to be seen urgently.

Non-Contact Consulting

We are asking that for now, no one other than staff enter the clinic.  The reason is – if one of us gets sick, it limits how many of us are available to help your pets. We are also doing this to protect you.

  • Always call to make an appointment (our online booking module has been switched off to triage patients appropriately);
  • When you arrive, stay in your car and call our reception on 0243845888 to let us know you are here. One of our nurses will come to collect your pet and take them inside;
  • One of our vets will call you while the examination takes place so you can ask them any other questions or concerns;
  • Please keep 1.5m away from staff and other customers while waiting.

As you can imagine, this process does take a little bit longer, so we have spaced out consultations and have put some limits on the types of procedures we can perform in a day. We are also being very careful with our usage of gloves and masks and other medical supplies, so we can have this available for the months to come.  

We recognise that it can be hard to part with your pet, even for a short period of time. Be rest assured, we practice low stress handling techniques and we will continue to provide lots of cuddles and treats.

Telemedicine Consulting

We are also happy to announce that as of next week, we will also be offering telemedicine consultations for certain cases, especially if you can’t visit the clinic.

Opening Hours

In order to thoroughly clean the clinic each day, we have made some temporary changes to our opening hours:

  • Monday to Friday – 8am to 5.30pm
  • Saturday – 8am to 2pm
  • Sunday – 8.30am to 12 noon

Consultations are by appointment only.

Medications and Food

If your pet is in need of any food or medications, please call us in advance so we can arrange this for you prior to pick up. We are starting to see some delays due to low stock levels with our suppliers. You don’t need to stock pile, but just don’t leave it until the last minute when you are running low. We can process payments over the phone prior to pick up and have everything ready for collection at the door or brought out to your car.

Can Your Pet Catch COVID-19?

While COVID-19 seems to have emerged from an animal source, it is now spreading from person-to-person. There is no evidence that any animals including pets might be a source of infection with this new virus. There have been no reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19 in Australia. We do recommend the usual hygiene measures of washing your hands well after handling your pets.

Cleaning Products Can Be Toxic to Pets

Please be careful with some cleaning products, as we have already seen some pets being affected by products such as Dettol – it is highly toxic to cats. Dettol can cause severe oral ulceration, vomiting, liver disease and death.

Thank You!

Last of all, we would like like to thank each and every one of our clients for being patient and understanding with all of these changes. Please remember, we are staying safe so we can stay open and take care of your fur family members. Thanks again!

Dr Melissa Kozaruk BVSc (Hons) – Hospital Director