AUGUST 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE

Many thanks to all for dealing with all the changes in policies that we have had to implement in the last month to deal with COVID 19. We are saddened by the still increasing number of cases in Grant County (currently at 420) and the 16 deaths. All our policies are designed to continue to protect staff and clients from infection. All of LVC staff has remained healthy and test negative.

Here is a summary of the things we are doing at Lancaster Veterinary Clinic to continue to serve you and your animals safely:

• We provide curbside service for clients to stay in their cars. Please call and let us know when you arrive.
• We are providing doggie daycare and boarding with drop-off at the outdoor dog run gate. We want to help provide daycare for dogs for everyone who is getting back to work or school.
• The drop off and pick up for grooming is at the back door to the garage. Phone information is on the door.
• Staff will be wearing masks when working with clients outside.
• Call for whatever large animal supplies you need. We can drop ship them or take them out to your vehicle or leave them in our back pick up box for you to pick up later.
• All the vets are happy to take your questions and help your animals with information over the phone. Sending pictures of your animal’s problem(s) is helpful.
• We are sanitizing surfaces, esp areas like phones, door handles and computers, and washing hands frequently.

To protect yourself and your family and reduce viral spread, follow these tips:

• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay at home
• Practice social distancing and use a mask when you do go out.
• Cover your cough or sneeze

No drive through COVID 19 testing is currently scheduled in the area. Testing is available in Dubuque by appointment at Unity Point Health (563-582-1881) and Epic Health and Wellness (563-582-1000).

Schools are opening September 1 in the area. We hope that everyone stays safe and that schools are able to continue providing in person instruction for those who want to come.

Please continue social distancing and mask wearing when out in public. That is the best defense we have against more corona virus infections.

YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION

Lancaster Veterinary Clinic is proud to support the efforts of Jake and LuAnn Klas and Fennimore Livestock Exchange and parents to give kids a chance to show and sell their fair livestock projects on August 29. The kids also had small shows at the fairgrounds Monday August 17 and Sat August 22. Many thanks to all the parents who worked hard to make that happen.

The Youth Livestock Auction will be at 6 pm on Sat August 29 at Fennimore Livestock Exchange. The kids will be showing pigs on Friday August 28 and beef, sheep, and goats on Sat August 29 starting at 10 am. The animals will go through the ring again for the auction. The kids have to participate in showmanship in order to sell an animal. Each kid can only sell one animal.
 

ANTITOXIN IS BACK

We are finally able to get Clostridium Antitoxin back in stock here at the clinic. This product has been on back order for months. It is the antidote that you can use to treat grain overload clostridium cases, bloat and muscle weakness. It is not a vaccine that has any long acting effect. If you want to prevent the Clostridial problems, you need to use one of the UltraBac vaccines. Please call and talk to Sally if you have questions about clostridial diseases and prevention of problems in your herd.
 

TERRIBLE PINKEYE PROBLEMS

This summer has been horrible for pinkeye infections. The terrible flies, gnats and mosquitoes have resulted in annoyance, skin problems and terrible pinkeye infections in calves and cows. We have even been seeing some eye infections in horses. The best treatment for pinkeye is either Draxxin or LA300 giving as soon as you see a watery eye or any drainage on the face. If you wait, you will be dealing with a white eye or one already blown out.

Suggestions for preventing pinkeye:

1. Install rubber or oiler with fly repellent at mineral feeders
2. Vaccinate. We have vaccines with “regular” pinkeye and “winter” pinkeye bacteria in them. You can have eyes cultured to see if you have any mycoplasma involved.
3. Keep grass mowed or clipped.
4. Consider feeding a mineral with tetracycline. Talk to Sally about this option.
5. Use insecticidal flytags to keep flies away from calf’s faces.
6. Keep cattle as spread out as possible.
7. Monitor daily and treat as soon as you see any moisture on the face.
8. You can use a dart gun to treat animals with Draxxin because of the low ml/lb dose.
    

WATCH FOR INFO ON CAT CLINIC

We are still figuring out what we are doing for our annual cat castration clinic during these COVID times. We will be doing cats for a discounted price through a ticket on our website at lancastervetclinic@gmail.com. We will have specific prices and schedule soon. We will not be doing cats for free. We will be scheduling cats at specific times, so things will be a little different this year. We want to keep everyone safe and not have a big group of people mixing at the clinic at the same time.
 

WELCOME KATIE AND HALLIE

We are happy to be adding Katie Fatzinger to our front deck staff and Hallie Scace to our kennel staff. Katie is taking Sarah’s place. Sarah will not be returning to work, but is going to be a stay at home mom with her new baby boy. Hallie is replacing Kaylee who got a different job.

Please be patient with our new team members as they learn the routine!
 

BRAVECTO FLEA AND TICK GIVEAWAY!

During Sept and Oct, we are giving prizes with every purchase of 2 or more Bravecto. All purchases will be entered in a raffle to win an activity tracker or a microchip pet feeder. Bravecto is a great product that prevents fleas and ticks with an oral chewable in dogs or spot-on for cats. A dog dose lasts 3 months. The cat dose of Bravecto Plus lasts 2 months and takes care of internal parasites and heartworms.
 

NEW 24/7 HOTLINE FOR FARMER MENTAL HEALTH

A new 24/7 counseling hotline hopes to relieve Wisconsin farmers, under added pressure from effects of COVID-19.

888-901-2558 is a free, confidential service by the Farm Center at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

The hotline launched in July - as part of a pilot program-- is funded by the state biennial budget. It connects farmers with licensed mental health professionals contracted by the department.

The program’s staff explains, “If you’re a farmer who, one, can’t get off the farm, and two, doesn’t have the financial resources or the insurance to cover mental health therapy, now you’ve got an avenue. Now you’ve got someone to talk to who’s going to understand.”