WRAL's Amanda Lamb reports vets are still treating pets during the coronavirus outbreak. There are, however, a lot of precautions put into place.
THINGS COMING BACK TO NORMAL, A BIT OF A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE A BIG WAY TO GO HERE BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. >>> IN A WORLD CONSUMED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS WHAT YOU DO IF YOUR PET NEEDS TREATMENT? WE SEE HOW VETERINARIANS ARE PROVIDING CARE IN THIS PANDEMIC. >> Reporter: DURING THE PANDEMIC YOUR PETS NEEDS DON'T STOP. VETERINARIANS ARE STILL SEEING ANIMALS, MOSTLY FOR EMERGENCY VISITS. THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF TELEMEDICINE AND SOME IN-PERSON VISITS USING A LOT OF PRECAUTIONS. >> THE FIRST THING WE DO IS MASK. >> Reporter: DOCTOR MARTY EDWARDS HAS A MOBILE THAT SERVICE IN CARY. SHE IS STILL TREATING SOME PATIENTS AT THEIR HOMES. >> YOU ARE SO EASY TO DO AN EXAM ON. >> Reporter: HER TEAM IS TAKING PRECAUTIONS. THEY INTERACT WITH THE ANIMALS OUTSIDE AND USE SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH PET OWNERS. >> HER EYES LOOK FINE. >> Reporter: EDWARDS IS DOING AS MUCH AS SHE CAN THROUGH TELEMEDICINE. >> I AM PUTTING LIDOCAINE WHERE I'M GOING TO DRAW BLOOD. >> IT IS VERY LIMITING. WE CANNOT DO RABIES SHOTS WITH TELEMEDICINE. >> Reporter: A LOT OF WHAT SHE IS HANDLING RIGHT NOW ARE EMERGENCIES. >> I HAD A CASE THAT TURNED FROM NASAL DISCHARGE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE HAS PNEUMONIA. >> Reporter: FOR THE CASES SHE IS HANDLING THROUGH TELEMEDICINE >> WE HAD A PICTURE OF A DOG THAT GOT IT. WE WILL LEAVE ANTIBIOTICS SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE DROPBOX. >> Reporter: SHE SAID IT IS TIMES LIKE THESE WHEN SHE REFERS TO THE OATH SHE TOOK AS A VET. >> TO PROTECT SOCIETY AND HUMAN HEALTH BY PROTECTING ANIMAL HEALTH. >> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. >> Reporter: IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, MOST VETERINARIANS WILL TALK TO ONLINE AND LOOK AT A PICTURE OR A VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM AND A LOT OF THEM ARE EVEN DROPPING MEDICINE AT THEIR CLIENT STORES. >>> ONE BIG PROBLEM IS FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE A VETERINARIAN OR HAVE NOT SEEN NEVER IN A WHILE. THEY ARE REQUIRING THOSE ANIMALS TO BE SEEN IN PERSON NOT THROUGH TELEMEDICINE. VETERINARIANS SAID THIS REQUIREMENT NEEDS TO BE TABLED DURING THE PANDEMIC. THEY SAY IT IS PUTTING THEM AT MORE RISK FORCING THEM TO HAVE IN-PERSON CONTACT. WE ASKED THE DIRECTOR OF THE VETERINARY BOARD ABOUT THIS.
