CHENNAI: It's not as hard to find a pet store as it is to find a pet clinic. Since the shutdown, most of the pet clinics in the city have remained closed and pet owners are having a hard time finding vets to care for their furry friends.
"My dog developed very bad skin allergies and our vet was unavailable. I tried to locate other clinics near our area but everything was closed," said Anusha Thirumurugan, a student residing in Mogappair East. "I finally managed to get in touch with a vet in Madurai and he prescribed medicines."
People complained that they are unable to get their pets treated for even minor ailments such as burns, insect bites or mild heat strokes, which is common during summers. "And heat strokes can be fatal if we do not visit the vet at the right time," said M Lalitha, a resident of Ashok Nagar. She said her dog suffered burns due to a bad chemical reaction. "And our vet asked us to come to his clinic in the afternoon but later said he can't make it because he was asked to return by the police," she said.
"It is true, many of us are finding it hard to come to our clinics because of this," said Dr V Prabhakar, veterinarian and founder of Pet Clinic at KK Nagar. Dr Prabhakar, who lives in Kolathur, said he has not been able to tend to his patients regularly since the lockdown began because police do not allow him to, despite showing them his identity card and all essential documents. "But it is my duty to tend to the animal, so I try to make it to the clinic as much as I can and at least attend critical cases," he said.
He said he has applied for a pass to be able to go to his clinic. "In the corporation's circular, there was no indication that veterinary clinics can operate, which is sad because this is an essential service and the authorities don't seem to see it that way," he said.
The Madras Veterinary College hospital in Vepery has also stopped outpatient services and only entertains emergency cases, leaving many pets and their parents in the lurch.
"This is a time of crisis and if we start tending to minor ailments or vaccinations, there will be a crowd and we will not be able to maintain social distancing as mandated by the government," said a senior veterinary doctor attached to the hospital.
The hospital, which sees at least 250-300 cases a day, has received less than half the number in the past two weeks.
"The moment the lockdown ends, we will resume our regular services. Till then, we have to curtail operations," said the doctor.
"My dog developed very bad skin allergies and our vet was unavailable. I tried to locate other clinics near our area but everything was closed," said Anusha Thirumurugan, a student residing in Mogappair East. "I finally managed to get in touch with a vet in Madurai and he prescribed medicines."
People complained that they are unable to get their pets treated for even minor ailments such as burns, insect bites or mild heat strokes, which is common during summers. "And heat strokes can be fatal if we do not visit the vet at the right time," said M Lalitha, a resident of Ashok Nagar. She said her dog suffered burns due to a bad chemical reaction. "And our vet asked us to come to his clinic in the afternoon but later said he can't make it because he was asked to return by the police," she said.
"It is true, many of us are finding it hard to come to our clinics because of this," said Dr V Prabhakar, veterinarian and founder of Pet Clinic at KK Nagar. Dr Prabhakar, who lives in Kolathur, said he has not been able to tend to his patients regularly since the lockdown began because police do not allow him to, despite showing them his identity card and all essential documents. "But it is my duty to tend to the animal, so I try to make it to the clinic as much as I can and at least attend critical cases," he said.
He said he has applied for a pass to be able to go to his clinic. "In the corporation's circular, there was no indication that veterinary clinics can operate, which is sad because this is an essential service and the authorities don't seem to see it that way," he said.
The Madras Veterinary College hospital in Vepery has also stopped outpatient services and only entertains emergency cases, leaving many pets and their parents in the lurch.
"This is a time of crisis and if we start tending to minor ailments or vaccinations, there will be a crowd and we will not be able to maintain social distancing as mandated by the government," said a senior veterinary doctor attached to the hospital.
The hospital, which sees at least 250-300 cases a day, has received less than half the number in the past two weeks.
"The moment the lockdown ends, we will resume our regular services. Till then, we have to curtail operations," said the doctor.
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