A warm hello to all of our wonderful clients!  
Though it’s been challenging at times to adapt our policies and procedures to meet this 2020 reality - together we are thriving.  As such, we’ve added additional services while continuing to deliver on our commitment to compassionate high quality care.  Our hope is by building on our portfolio of products and services we can both reduce the need for external specialist referrals while increasing efficiency - saving you both time and money while mitigating the stress to your companions. 
We’re excited about these improvements and know they’ll prove beneficial to you and your furry family members.  Please see below for details!

This blog contains information on the following:

• New weekend hours!
• The new phone system that lets us send text messages to each other
• Our new app available for download
• Low stress handling and how it helps your pet feel good about coming in for a visit
• The expanded in house laboratory options 
• Why having an ultrasound machine helps us help your pet
• The specialists relationships we utilize for your benefit
• When cryotherapy may be appropriate
• Advanced dental procedures available
• Alternative medicine and holistic care options 
• Our online pharmacy and expanded in house options 
• Telemedicine options 
• How are we handling euthanasia during COVID

In addition, we've added more information under our resources section, including puppy/kitten info, helpful videos, and grief resources.  On our about us page, you can check out bios for our doctors and staff - get to know us better.  

Sincerely,
Rancho San Carlos Pet Clinic​

Our RSCPC App makes everything easier for YOU!
Here are the top 5 perks:

1. See all of your pet’s information in one place and easily look up what your pet is coming up due for!
2. Schedule appointments right from the app!
3. Order food and prescriptions without having to call in!
4. Turn on notifications so you will never miss an upcoming due date for your pet!
5. You can even upload a cute profile picture of your pet onto his or her profile!

Download in 3 Easy Steps:

1. Open the app store on your smartphone.
2. Type “RSCPC” in the search bar
3. Have fun setting up your account and personalizing it from there!

​LOW STRESS HANDLING: We have gone through training on low stress handling with select doctors certified in the Fear Free method. We use food rewards, pheromones, special handling, and sometimes medication to ensure your pet has the best possible experience with us.  Additionally, we’re happy to consult with you about at home anxieties, or about barriers getting into the hospital.

IN HOUSE LAB TESTING: In addition to being able to check a CBC for red & white blood cells and a chemistry panel for organ function, we are now also able to run in house:

• Blood clotting times to evaluate for bleeding disorders
• Urinalysis to evaluate for infection, crystals, or other
• Heartworm and tick disease testing
• Feline heart disease by checking the heart muscle enzyme
• Feline viral disease testing (FeLV/FIV)
• Parvovirus testing in puppies

Send out lab tests may be more appropriate in certain situations. Your veterinarian will choose the best option that fits your pet’s situation. 

SPECIALIST RELATIONSHIPS: We work with local specialists to provide specialty surgery, internal medicine, echocardiograms, and ultrasound services. Our mobile surgeons, Dr. Demner and Dr. Frey, provide a wide array of surgeries including cruciate repair, fracture repair, large mass removals, amputations, and more. Our surgeons can provide pain control options such as Nocita which will numb the area for 3 days after surgery, keeping your pet comfortable during the critical post-operative period.
Our mobile internal medicine specialist can perform endoscopy to remove foreign bodies from the stomach, bronchoscopy to evaluate lung disease, and consults on complicated cases.
​The mobile imaging service can provide echocardiograms read by a cardiologist to recommend medications to manage heart disease, as well as other ultrasound services to evaluate internal organs. Our veterinarians review all procedures before they are performed. Providing these services here often reduces your cost significantly.

​CRYOTHERAPY: for smaller masses such as skin tags and warts we can use cryotherapy to remove without the need for anesthesia or surgery. Cryotherapy is also helpful for eyelid margin masses that can be removed without a surgical wedge (under anesthesia). Just ask one of our veterinarians if cryotherapy is appropriate for your pet.

​DENTAL CARE: in addition to our digital dental x-rays, we now have sealant options to help improve the long-term health of your pet’s teeth.
A bonded sealant is used for fractured teeth without pulp exposure and will:

• Reduce sensitivity (pain)
• Block off the pathway for infection
• Smooth the tooth to decrease periodontal disease

​

ALTERNATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE: Dr. Halsey provides acupuncture for the treatment and management of osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease, masticatory muscle myositis, degenerative myelopathy, anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, and more. Alternative treatments such as supplements, allergy testing, vaccine titers, fecal transplants, and electromagnetic therapy can be discussed with any of our doctors. 
​

ONLINE PHARMACY:  For your convenience, we now have an online pharmacy so medications can be shipped directly to your home. Using our pharmacy not only supports local business, it also means you get the manufacturer guarantee, which is not true for all products on other pharmacies. We work hard to keep our prices reasonable and as low as possible. Non-prescription pet food and other wellness items are also available.  Check it out at: https://ranchosancarlospetclinicinc.securevetsource.com/

TELEMEDICINE: The state of California has restrictions on when we are allowed to offer telemedicine, but if you are interested, just ask. We have phone or video capability using a web platform (no downloads required; mac or PC). Telemedicine visits are scheduled as 30 minutes of time with the doctor. Recommendations will be made and either a follow up appointment or prescriptions prescribed at that time. 

HOW ARE WE HANDLING EUTHANASIA DURING COVID? Saying goodbye is never easy, but it can be even harder when you don’t get to be with your pet. Unfortunately, our local emergency hospitals and some of our area hospitals are not able to provide a safe space for clients and pets. Here at Rancho San Carlos Pet Clinic, we have put up an outdoor rainbow room that provides privacy while still being outside. We place an IV catheter and use a long line so that we can practice safe social distancing while you say goodbye. 

HOUSE CALLS: due to COVID, house calls have been suspended temporarily. It is our goal to get back on the road as soon as safely possible in order to help those pets who do best in the home. Occasionally, we do still offer some in home euthanasia, depending on the circumstances. 

As we head into April, we would like to take a moment to thank our wonderful clients who have been so understanding with our new normal. We miss shaking hands with new clients and hugging our long time clients who have turned into family for us. We doctors miss having you there while we examine your pet and describe what we see and feel. Our staff misses seeing clients that stop by to pick up medications and chat about their pets. Please understand that this is just as difficult for us as it is for you. 
We are trying our absolute hardest to keep ourselves well so we can continue to care for your beloved pets. We also want to protect the many people we come in contact with during the course of a work day. 
We have divided our team into groups so that there is minimal staff interactions or cross over between groups. As such, if your on hold time is longer than expected or you have to leave a message, just know it is because we are helping another client just like you and we will get back to you as soon as we are done. We have also temporarily modified our hours to ensure adequate staffing. We want to get back to normal as soon as possible and will continue to update our website and social media to keep you informed. 
Our curbside service allows you to bring your pet in for their urgent needs while limiting person-to-person interaction. Our online fillable form allows you to provide us a history to go with your pet's exam. You can also pick up medication or pet food by calling us from the parking lot and we will bring it to you. 

In addition, we have launched our own online pharmacy to allow you to order medications & pet food online (while still supporting our small business). Did you know that most manufacturers do not sell directly to online pharmacies? This is especially true for prescription medications, so they must get redirected product which may or may not have been stored properly or be legitimate. See this FDA alert for more information about shopping online. Our online pharmacy products are provided directly by the manufacturer and have their full guarantee. Prescription pet food maintains it flavor guarantee and can be returned if your pet doesn't like it. There are also many options for free shipping. 
Furthermore, we have some telemedicine options available when appropriate. If you think this may be appropriate for your pet, please contact us. 
Ultimately, we hope that you are enjoying having your pet as your coworker as you shelter safely in place, or that your pet is there to comfort you after a hard day work. Cats on keyboards and noses nudging elbows don't always make us the most productive, but they sure do make life more entertaining and keep us smiling during what is otherwise a difficult time.
We know that we will get through this together. ​
Sincerely, 
​The Rancho San Carlos Team

Dear Rancho San Carlos Family, 
Starting tomorrow, Wednesday March 18th, we'll be starting mandatory curbside service to comply with the latest safety guidelines. Business hours will remain unchanged during this time.

Here's how it'll work:
1.    Call from the parking lot when you arrive for your appointment, do not enter the lobby unless specifically instructed to do so
2.    One of our staff members will discuss your pet’s case over the phone and then come to your car to gather your pet

• Dogs will be leashed using our safety slip leashes or can arrive in carriers if small
• All cats will need to be delivered in carriers  
• All birds need to be in carriers/cages

3.    Carriers will be sanitized upon entry to the clinic
4.    Your pet will be evaluated by our team inside the hospital and you'll then be contacted regarding any significant exam findings, recommendations, and/or treatment options
5.    You may stay in the parking lot for the duration of your visit, or leave and return when your pet is ready
6.    Checkout will be handled over the phone
7.    Carriers will again be sanitized upon exit from the clinic
8.   A staff member will return your pet to your vehicle when you are ready to receive them

Unfortunately, during this time house calls will be suspended, with in-home euthanasia being a special accommodation.   

Should your pet have special needs that require you to be with them, we ask that only one healthy person accompany your pet’s visit, and that this has been discussed ahead of time with clinic staff.

Of course, please call us to discuss should you require any special accommodations.  We're here to help ensure that everyone remains safe and satisfied with their care.

Thank you so very much for your help and understanding during this difficult time,
The Rancho San Carlos Team

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Q: Can I still bring my pet to the vet?
A: If you are healthy, there is no reason you should not bring your pet in as planned. During times like this, preventative medicine is more important than ever. Keeping ourselves and our pets healthy through proactive care ensures we are in the best shape to fight off disease. We also want to ensure we manage existing disease and treat new problems quickly. If you are not healthy, or believe you have been exposed to COVID 19, please call prior to coming inside. 

Q: If I am sick, and my pet is sick, what should I do? 
A: We will accommodate you to the best of our ability. It may be appropriate for you to wait in your car for your appointment while your pet comes inside, or instead drop off your pet for a few hours and pick up later. We can review your pet's history via phone, take your pet from you in the parking lot, and phone later to review the exam findings and treatment recommendations. We may be able to accommodate house calls, medication delivery, and/or telemedicine.

Q: Does COVID 19 affect pets? 
A: Most likely no. This disease is either predominantly human or purely human, and which one is still under investigation. There is currently no evidence that our pets would become sick or spread the disease if exposed.

Q: Should I be worried about catching COVID 19 from my dog or cat?
A: No. While we are still figuring out if your pet can catch it from you, this is a disease that is spread people-to-people. Your pet can act as a contaminated surface. 

Q: Where can I look for more information? 
A: 

• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• The San Diego County Website
• The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• Check our our infographic below: