As mentioned at the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) press conference on April 3, veterinary services are considered essential services.

Hence, most animal clinics remain open in Singapore during this circuit breaker period.

However, not all veterinary services will be provided at the clinics.

In response to Mothership queries, Group Director for Professional & Scientific Services at the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), National Parks Board (NParks), Chang Siow Foong said:

"Veterinary services are considered essential for the provision of emergency, non-elective veterinary services, including hospitalisation."

What are essential veterinary services?

These essential services can be divided into two parts: Emergency and Non-elective services.

An emergency means that it can cause significant risk to public health, animal life and animal welfare if not seen immediately within hours or on the same day.

In normal times, these are cases that will be seen out of hours or fitted in on the same day.

Non-elective, on the other hand, means that a pet is likely to develop significant compromises on animal health and welfare.

As a result, it may become life-threatening if treatment is deferred beyond the current period of restriction.

Examples of emergencies:

• Severe pain
• Seizures
• Collapse or prolonged weakness (including paralysis and paresis)
• Hypothermia
• Anaphylactic shock
• Sudden altered mentation
• Breathing difficulty
• Choking or signs of airway obstruction
• Persistent coughing leading to respiratory distress
• Major trauma injury e.g. fracture, major open wound, bite wound, burn wound
• Significant bleeding
• Signs of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
• Repeated retching
• Suspected ingestion of foreign bodies
• Suspected gastric dilatation-volvulus and abdominal distension
• Uterine or rectal prolapse
• Repeated straining but unable to urinate or defecate
• Dystocia
• Suspected toxin/venom exposure e.g. Snakebite, insect bite, ingestion of toxic substances, smoke inhalation
• Signs of heatstroke
• Ocular emergencies e.g. prolapse of the eye
• Suspected/confirmed zoonotic and/or notifiable diseases (e.g. Leptospirosis, Rabies, Leishmaniasis)

Example of non-elective treatment:

• Vomiting or diarrhoea associated with systemic signs
• Painful or severe skin conditions - severe pyoderma, bleeding skin lesions
• Aural hematoma
• Vaginal discharge
• Red-tinged urine
• Repeated straining to urinate but producing urine
• Deteriorating chronic conditions e.g. renal diseases, endocrine diseases, cardiac diseases
• Glaucoma
• Eye infections
• Dental diseases which prevent or impinges on food and water consumption
• Inappetence of 12 hours or more (in small mammals)
• Reduced faecal output (in small mammals)

What are non-essential veterinary services?

Elective veterinary services are considered non-essential and will not be provided during this period.

These services are consultations or treatments that can be deferred beyond the current period of restriction without significant impact on animal health and welfare.

This includes conditions that are unlikely to deteriorate.

Consultations and prescription of medicine for such symptoms can be performed via phone or other non-physical channels.

Examples of elective veterinary services:

• Non-urgent diagnostics and assessments e.g. skin allergy testing, cataract assessment
• Updates on progress of existing case
• Review of well-managed chronic cases and prescription of repeat medication
• Mild skin conditions
• New skin mass
• Mild locomotive issues – lameness, chronic arthritis
• Conjunctivitis

Routine elective prophylactic/preventative care:

• Vaccinations – vaccinations for import/export purposes, vaccination of food

  animals and vaccination of companion animals at high-risk (such as puppies) will

  be allowed to continue.

• Elective sterilisation for pet animals (exception is the sterilisation of street dogs or cats, which are under the national animal management programme).
• Husbandry e.g. ear cleaning and nail trimming, anal gland emptying in the absence of clinical signs, dental cleaning, wing clipping or beak trimming of birds
• Routine wellness checks
• Behavioural cases

Consultation via phone or internet

According to Chang, all cases should be tele-triaged (via consultation over the phone or internet) with the necessary veterinarians to determine if a veterinary visit or in-person consultation is required.

"Veterinary clinics may choose to implement additional measures to protect their staff, or adjust their operations to suit their resource constraints. Pet owners are advised to heed the advice of their veterinarians to ensure that the necessary treatment and care is provided whilst complying with all necessary measures."

You can find more information here.

Top image from SPCA Singapore/FB.