Dr. Gardner’s COVID & Other Respiratory Viruses Policy

On March 1, 2024 the CDC updated their guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. The new guidance includes all respiratory viruses.

The CDC recommends that you stay home and away from other people until your symptoms are getting better for at least 24 hours and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours, without medications such as Tylenol or Advil. Once you end isolation you may still be contagious, so they recommend taking precautions such as wearing a mask for the next 5 days.

Here is what I respectively ask of my clients: 

• Please be considerate of my health and reschedule if you may still be contagious with any respiratory illness (even if you tested negative for COVID and believe it’s “just a cold”) on the day of your pet’s appointment. (I will happily waive my late cancellation fee, even with way less than the 72 hours’ notice normally required, if you tell me you need to reschedule because you are sick!)

• Keep in mind that I treat your pet in your home and must depend on you for a safe working environment. A person who is recovering from a respiratory virus and runs errands while masked, without spreading the virus to others, is a different scenario than it being safe to invite someone into your home, where you’ve been isolating while sick.

• If you have any respiratory symptoms, even if you are certain you are not contagious, please be courteous and wear a mask for my peace of mind. Remember that it’s impossible to maintain 6 feet of physical distance while assisting me with the examination and treatment of your pet.

I am up to date on COVID and flu vaccinations, and I will continue to wear a KN-95 mask during house calls.

Thank you,

Dr. Gardner