COVID-19 Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic Preparedness Guide

This COVID-19 Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic Preparedness Guide is a collaborative effort led by shelter and spay/neuter professionals representing different aspects of veterinary clinic operations. In all cases, the intention is advisory in nature and based on current knowledge. This guidance is not a standard or regulation and creates no legal obligation. It is intended to help clinic leadership formulate the safest and most reasonable approaches to operating spay/neuter and wellness clinics and maintain life-saving functions. Communities vary greatly and what may be safe and feasible for one community may not be for another. Organizations should always adhere to state and local laws and regulations.

If you have sample protocols or documents you would like us to consider for addition to our library, please submit those here.

This is a living document that will be updated regularly.

Download the Guide

Community Preparedness

• RESOURCES
  • Coronavirus in the U.S.: Where cases are growing and declining
  • Directory of local health departments
  • Spay/Neuter Checklist

Decision-making to control disease transmission

• RESOURCES
  • Protecting your veterinary team during the pandemic
  • Spay/Neuter Safely Decision Guide

Staff safety and support

• RESOURCES
  • ASPCA On-boarding manual
  • Department of Labor Coronavirus Response Act Employer Poster
  • Department of Labor information on COVID-19 related paid leave requirements
  • Guide to Employee Temperature Checks
  • Summary for Managing COVID-19 Exposed or Infected Employees 
  • Surgery Team AM checklist
  • Toronto Humane Society sample infection control protocol

Prioritizing patients

Capacity for care

• RESOURCES
  • American Veterinary Medical Association
  • Cleaning during COVID
  • Creating Staff Teams for Spay/Neuter Clinics
  • Staff capacity survey

Surgical supplies and PPE

• RESOURCES
  • Navigating Anesthetic Drug Shortages

Anesthetic considerations

• RESOURCES
  • Anesthesia in Shelter Medicine (Ko and Berman 2010)
  • Anesthetic Options for Spay/Neuter Procedures During COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Drug Availability Table
  • FDA Drug Shortages
  • Pain block protocol 

Client communications

• RESOURCES
  • Sample Client Questions
  • Sample FAQs
  • SNAP Covid-19_Protocol Client Sign 
  • SNAP Covid-19_Social_Distancing Sign 
  • SNAP We Are Open Sign 

Scheduling and physical distancing

• RESOURCES
  • ClinicHQ
  • Spay/Neuter Surgery Consent Form

Intake protocols and physical distancing

• RESOURCES
  • ASPCA Gentle Animal Handling While Socially Distancing
  • Better Vaccine Clinics with Clinic HQ
  • Shelter Outreach Services curbside wellness service
  • Socially-Distant Vestibule System 

Paperwork and record-keeping

• RESOURCES
  • Treatment Sheet Template

Discharge protocols and physical distancing

• RESOURCES
  • Post-Op Instructions For Spay/Neuter Clinics

Post-operative care

• RESOURCES
  • Veterinary Boards Are Taking Special Actions During COVID-19 Pandemic

Financial considerations and mitigating risk

• RESOURCES
  • Financial Considerations for Reopening a Clinic 

For the latest information on COVID-19 related to workplace safety and veterinary practice, organizations are directed to the following sites:  

• OSHA Guidelines on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19  
• Spay/Neuter in the Age of COVID Sample Clinic Protocols 
• Veterinary State Boards Are Taking Special Actions During COVID-19 Pandemic

Core Committee 

Elizabeth Berliner DVM DABVP, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine 
Jennifer Bolser DVM, Association of Shelter Veterinarians 
Gina Clemmer, Clinic HQ 
Natalie Corwin, Pet Community Center, TN 
Cynthia Karsten DVM DABVP, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program 
Aimee St.Arnaud, Best Friends Animal Society

Review Committee

Jennifer Scarlett DVM, San Francisco SPCA 
Stan Hill DVM, Jacksonville Humane Society 
Denise Deisler, Jacksonville Humane Society 
Brian DiGangi DVM, ASPCA and Association of Shelter Veterinarians  
Lena DeTar DVM, DABVP, DACVPM  Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine 
Karen Little, Alley Cat Advocates, KY 
Erin Katribe DVM, Best Friends Animal Society 
Leslie Appel DVM, SOS NY 
Emily McCobb DVM DACVAA, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University