Puppies, Kittens, Rabies and Tigers – Oh My!

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to our lives. We are excited to learn that many of you, and your friends, are using this time to add new kittens and puppies to your family. During these tough times, they are so significant to us. We welcome these new family members to our West Loop Community.

After speaking with the proper authorities, we have added the following to our services during this stay-at-home period:

• Comprehensive new kitten and puppy consultations.
• Rabies vaccination for pets that have never been vaccinated or have only had one rabies vaccine in their life.
• Additional availability for emergency care appointments on Sundays to support our local pet emergency hospitals.

We will continue to provide the following services: 

• Urgent or emergency care for sick or injured pets
• End-of-life care for terminally ill pets
• Surgery
• Puppy and kitten vaccinations
• Rabies vaccinations as required by law
• Dental care for the health and comfort of the pet
• Refill of prescriptions, food, heartworm medication and other preventatives

Although we are not currently scheduling wellness appointments and regular dental cleanings, we look forward to catching your pets up on their regular care when that becomes possible.

You can request an appointment by calling our office at 312-421-2275 or go to our website and schedule an appointment online (https://westloopvet.use2.ezyvet.com/external/portal/main/login#googtrans(en)).

Please remember that for the safety of our team members and clients, pet owners are not allowed in our building, except in special circumstances such as end of life care.

Tigers and lions and COVID-19

No doubt, you have heard that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for the COVID-19 illness and that other tigers and lions were also sickened. While we don’t treat tigers, – or lions, we do treat cats and dogs and we want to reiterate a few key points from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

• At this time, there is no reason to believe that pets can spread COVID-19 to people.
• Although more than a million people worldwide have been confirmed to have the virus, only a few animals have been diagnosed with it and just a handful have shown any signs of illness.
• As always, pet owners should wash their hands before and after handling their pets.
• Anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 should follow these guidelines related to interacting with pets:
• No petting
• No snuggling
• No kissing the pet
• No being licked by the pet
• No sharing food with pets
• No sharing household items such as dishes, glassware and bedding

If you have COVID-19, it’s best to have someone else care for and interact with your pets. If that is not possible, or if you have a service dog, the CDC recommends you wear a mask and wash your hands before and after interacting with animals, their food, dishes, toys, bedding and other items.

Easter & Passover

Easter and Passover celebrations this year will no doubt be different than usual. Please remember  that many of the items we enjoy these holidays are dangerous to pets. Please keep the following items out of the reach of cats and dogs:

• Lilies – which are extremely toxic to cats. In fact, lilies are so toxic, our veterinarians recommend that they not be allowed in homes with cats.
• Chocolate candies and baked goods are toxic to both cats and dogs. Too often dogs are will eat any chocolate they can reach, even if it’s still in a wrapper.
• Sugar-free candy, gum and baked goods often contain the
• Decorations, including plastic eggs and grass can be problematic for curious cats and dogs. These items can become lodged in your pet’s intestines and require surgery to remove.
• Fatty foods such as ham, lamb, buttered vegetables can cause stomach upset or a more serious illness, pancreatitis.

Closed Easter Sunday

West Loop Veterinary Care will be closed Easter Sunday, April 12.  We will reopen with regular business hours on Monday, April 13.

We hope you and your family are safe and well throughout this crisis. We will continue to be here for you.