(UPDATED June 22, 2020)

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies have been focused on providing exceptional care for pets, while at the same time protecting the safety of our team members, clients, and the community. We continue to practice rigorous sanitary measures, social distancing practices, and we follow CDC guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus. As we monitor our situation in Colorado and the changing guidelines around the COVID-19 pandemic, we will maintain open communication about our practices and what you can expect from your experience at our hospital. Thank you for your understanding as we continue to keep everyone safe.

For Your Safety

Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies will continue to remain client-free inside our hospital, restricting non-team members indoors during daylight hours. Special exceptions may be made for critical care patients, clients that are making end of life decisions, and clients that are coming in for assessment during nighttime hours. Any individual permitted to come inside the building must wear a face mask (covering nose and mouth) at all times.

All clients bringing their pets to our hospital will continue to be screened for potential exposure to the virus by being asked to respond to the following questions:

1. Have you, or has anyone living in the same household as you, traveled outside of Douglas County in the past 14 days? If yes, where did you travel?
2. Have you been in contact with anyone who has been confirmed COVID-19 positive in the last 14 days?
3. Is anyone you live with waiting for a COVID-19 test result?
4. Have you had any respiratory signs of the virus or flu-like symptoms in the past 14 days?
5. Are you currently experiencing any respiratory signs of the virus or any flu-like symptoms?

If you are feeling ill, please ask someone else to bring your pet to the hospital for evaluation. We will still see your pet but ask that you help keep others healthy.

If you are at high-risk for contracting COVID-19, please ask someone else to bring your pet for evaluation.

Upon Your Arrival

As we continue to practice curbside check-in please call us at 303.660.1027 upon arrival from your car and describe your vehicle. Someone on our staff, practicing CDC recommended health-protective procedures, will check you in. Registration forms may be sent to your email for review and signature.

Our team will retrieve your pet from your vehicle and bring them inside the hospital for assessment. We will guide you through our process to minimize exposure and provide the care your pet needs. Please make sure pets are on a leash or in a carrier. If your pet needs a gurney, please let us know.

Also, please keep your pet’s belongings (toys, blankets) with you. Personal belongings CANNOT be brought into the hospital.

• For Dogs: We ask that clients provide assistance getting pets out of their vehicle, unless pets cannot move or walk, or unless clients are physically unable to assist. Please keep your dog leashed until we can transfer them to our leash (or gurney) to safely bring your dog inside.
• For Cats: Please hand your carrier to a team member. If you will not have your cat in a carrier, please let us know so that we can safely move your cat inside.

Then, we kindly ask that you wait in your vehicle on the premises until the doctor has spoken with you about your pet.

Updates on Your Pets

Following the examination, a doctor will call you to discuss their recommendations. We will present you with a treatment plan and associated costs at that time. After diagnostics and/or treatments have been performed, we will call to discuss the results.

• Once your pet’s care is complete, the discharge process will be discussed, and any remaining balance will be collected. All payments will be taken over the phone or in our parking lot. Please refrain from using cash whenever possible.
• We will then bring your pet out to you along with any medications and instructions.

For Our Emergency Patients

Emergencies can rapidly evolve, as with human hospitals, we triage our patients based on their critical needs. This can impact your wait time. Emergencies are not treated on a first-come, first-served basis.

• It can be hard to imagine what is happening inside the hospital, but please know we are moving as fast as we safely can. We invite clients to call hourly to check in for an updated wait time, or sooner if you have new or changing concerns for your pet.
• If you need to step away from the hospital during your wait or visit, please speak to a team member by phone before leaving and continue to be available by phone.
• The health and wellbeing of our community is our top priority and we will do all we can to help limit the spread of the virus and keep everyone safe. Thank you for your understanding.

For Your Information: News Updates and Resources

Brief News Update: A small number of pets worldwide, including cats and dogs are reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people positive for COVID-19.  Based on the limited information available to date, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shared that it appears that the virus can spread from people to animals in some situations, but the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low. 

We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available. For the most up-to-date information, we recommend that you check with official government agencies. The information and links below may also be helpful:

• Global health authorities including the World Health Organization and CDC
• The CDC has created www.coronavirus.gov, where you can obtain information on precautions to take to minimize the chances of contracting the virus at home, at work, and out in the world
• Colorado Department of Public Health COVID-19 page
• The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently shared that pets do not appear to be easily infected by the virus 
• The AVMA has also recently stated that the routine testing of animals for COVID-19 is not recommended by the VMA, CDC, USDA, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD),  National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV), or the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials.
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) article: Coronavirus update: Pets are safe . . . but wash your hands