In an effort to reduce the risk of exposure to the SARS CoV2 virus, the MU Veterinary Health Center will temporarily alter our patient intake procedures. Only students and employees may enter the hospital during this time except under very limited circumstances. When you arrive for your scheduled appointment, or after arriving with an animal emergency, please remain in your car and call the following phone numbers:
Small Animal Hospital: Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., call: 573-882-1836 or 573-882-2521; between 5 p.m. and midnight, call: 573-882-1570; between midnight and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and during weekends, call: 573-999-1027.
Equine Hospital: Call 573-882-7871.
Food Animal Hospital and Theriogenology Services: Call 573-882-7870.
The staff will ask two questions:
1) Have you or anyone with whom you have been in contact during the past two weeks demonstrated signs compatible with COVID-19? (cough, fever, body aches, or other respiratory symptoms), and
2) Have you or anyone you have been in contact with during the past two weeks been suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19?
The staff will notify the veterinary team of your arrival. A team member will call you on the phone to ask a few more basic questions, including about your animal’s ability to walk and its size as well as where you are parked. The team member will come to your vehicle to collect your pet. For cats, we will make sure your cat is in a carrier. We will take your cat inside to transfer to a hospital carrier and immediately return your carrier to you.
Horse Owners: A team member will come out and exchange your halter and lead rope for our own. They will then bring your horse inside.
Food Animal Owners: A team member will ask you to back your trailer up to the chute system.
Theriogenology Clients: A team member will ask you to enter the emergency entrance vestibule and place your dog in one of the kennels. After removing any collar, leash or harness, exit the vestibule.
Once your animal is inside, the team will contact you to discuss your animal’s medical problem, proposed diagnostic testing and treatment, and provide an estimate of costs. Collection of deposits and payments will be made over the telephone when our cashiers give you a call. We have a shade tent and porch area where you may wait, but we suggest that you either go home while you animal is here, or that you explore some of what the area has to offer.
When your animal is ready to leave the hospital, the same procedures will be followed in reverse.
Updated 6/29/2020
