Located at
1215 Prospect Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Phone: 515-224-9747
Email: west@fampetvet.com
Located at
1215 Prospect Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Phone: 515-224-9747
Email: west@fampetvet.com
Located at
1326 Sunset Drive
Norwalk, IA 50211
Phone: 515-981-0317
Email: norwalk@fampetvet.com
Located in our Norwalk Center
1326 Sunset Drive
Norwalk, IA 50211
Phone: 515-421-4838
Email: consult@tooth.vet
We suggest you ‘see’ us through Pet Telemedicine so we can address your concerns before having an in-person appointment.
COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family, and it first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, runny nose, cough and breathing trouble. While most people experience mild symptoms, some may develop more severe symptoms, which can be fatal.
COVID-19 is believed to be spread only person to person, which means that infection can occur through close contact with infected individuals. Although it is believed that COVID-19 is most contagious when an infected individual is most symptomatic, an individual may still be contagious without exhibiting any symptoms.
According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid it. FPVC team members are doing our part by practicing good hygiene at work and at home:
If you have symptoms of acute respiratory illness, you should self quarantine or seek medical attention as stated by the CDC. As mentioned in the video above, do not drive to our office if:
Request a TeleVet consult (see below) to talk to one of our veterinarians from home.
Your pet is not at risk for infecting you with COVID -19. Please read this blog for updated information on COVID and pets.
Do not abandon your pets out of fear of contracting COVID-19 from them or infecting them with COVID-19. Practice basic hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling or walking your pets. If you’d like to take extra precaution, you can wipe down your pets with disposable baby wipes after their walks. Contact us if you need further advice.
Should our offices be forced to temporarily close as an absolute worst case, we will always have someone able to come in to take care of boarding and/or hospitalized pets.
We know that some of you may end up quarantined or stuck at home sick. We still want to help you the best we can. Some choices are as follows:
As part of our commitment to ‘flatten the curve’ we will be making a few changes to how our Practice will see patients through July 31st. We will be accepting sick patients via drop off and requiring non-sick pet visits in need of a deadline sensitive Rabies vaccine, or preventative boosters for puppies/kittens at risk to allow us to meet you at your vehicle. We would prefer to keep social distance by having owners remain in the car and communicating by phone or the TeleVet app (see links above). It is best not to schedule other types of visits such as wellness/nail trims/elective procedures until July 31st unless deemed medically necessary by one of our veterinarians.
When you arrive with your pet(s), please call us at 515-224-9747 (West) or 515-981-0317 (Norwalk) and a technician will meet you at your vehicle. We can call your phone, text you, or video conference through TeleVet to collect a history and offer a treatment plan.
If you need food or medication for your pets please contact our office to prepay for what you need and we will provide you with pick up instructions. There are many ways to reach us: phone, texting as listed above, or chatting/video consult with a doctor through the TeleVet app.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, we ask that you have someone that is well transport your pet(s) to our office and let us know the best person to communicate with regarding treatment planning decisions.
Given this is a rapidly developing situation, we will continue to monitor developments and update our course of action as new information becomes available through the CDC. We know it’s a stressful time, but please believe that your pets are safe and that you are safe around your pets. If you have any more questions, we’re here to help!
Stay healthy,
Drs. Jen Mathis, Ryan Southard, Emily Linscheid, Ron Emerson and the entire team of Family Pet Veterinary Centers and Animal Dentistry Referral Services