All walks of life have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but for a profession which means so much to so many of us, it has changed the shape of everything.

A veterinary nurse from Dartford has described the trials and tribulations of working at a social distance for the past nine months, from working with new pet owners to dealing with the death of beloved animals, and all with the constant uncertainty of lockdown.

Practice principal at easipetcare in Kent Road, Sam Hall began his career as an animal nursing assistant when he was 16 and has been a veterinary nurse since 2009, joining the surgery in 2018.

Vet nurses are trained in a range of clinical skills such as taking blood, assisting in theatre, helping to monitor anaesthetics, performing X-rays, taking care of in-patients, nutritional advice, amongst other important duties.

He said: "I really enjoy working in a profession where I can see we are making a difference.

"My favourite part of my role is meeting our clients and their pets – something that's been a bit different during Covid.

"But the hardest part is the emotional highs and lows, although this bond with our patients can be the best part too.

"We are here for owners through the happy times such as bringing home a new pet, successfully training a nervous puppy, and sharing the good news when a treatment has worked.

"But the next minute, we can be supporting owners while breaking bad news, and caring for a really sick patient.

"This part has been particularly challenging during the pandemic. It is more difficult to relay empathy and understanding over the phone, or kitted out in full PPE.

"It was hard when we were restricted to emergencies only and had to go down to skeleton staff.

"Also, our job is as much about people as pets, so reduced face-to-face interactions with owners has been challenging.

"There's been a lot to juggle – in addition to government restrictions for businesses, vet practices need to comply with advice from our governing bodies too.

"During the first lockdown, we were only able to provide emergency pet treatment, which led to an inevitable backlog of routine pet healthcare, such as vaccinations and neuterings.

"Since guidance changed to allow these procedures, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure people's pets have the preventative healthcare they need."

As with many businesses, Sam was left with the difficult decision to ask some staff to take furlough leave.

The clinic was cut to a third of its usual working staff of five full-time vets, five nurses and five receptionists.

He continued: "Although we are happy to be operating more normally again, it was tricky to balance increased pet care demand with knowing how and when to bring back team members and maintain a viable business.

"Interactions with clients have also been more difficult due to social distancing and the need to communicate while wearing PPE.

"We've done all we can to keep clients safe and comply with government advice.

"However, discussing complex medical conditions or comforting worried owners when their beloved pet is unwell is a challenge under current restrictions."

One of the hardest parts of the job is having to put an animal down – an almost unimaginable task.

To help stop the spread of the virus, only one client per pet is allowed to attend the clinic, even if an animal has to be put to sleep.

Sam said: "The protocol for euthanasia has had to adapt in order to comply with guidelines as set out by the government.

"The vet and nurse will of course be in full PPE for everyone's protection, and the client will need to wear a face covering for the duration of their visit.

"We respectfully ask that other family members say their goodbyes prior to attending the clinic.

"We ask that the client remains at least one metre from the team whilst they perform the euthanasia – all the time the patient is being comforted by the veterinary nurse. Once the patient has passed, the team will leave the consulting room, allowing the client to say their last goodbye."

On November 26, the government announced which tier each part of the country would be going into following the end of the second lockdown.

With an already increased amount of pressure, the announcement of Kent being placed into Tier 3 has proved concerning for Sam and his team.

He added: "In a way, the certainty of the initial lockdown was easier to manage, as we knew that we would only be able to provide emergency care.

"Since the first lockdown lifted, there has been a lot of uncertainty about which services would be allowed – we've had to balance staffing levels and the change in permitted working practices.

"The announcement of the second lockdown meant we were initially unsure whether we would see a return to the restrictions of earlier this year.

"However, we've continued operating our full range of services in line with government and veterinary body guidance.

"Our practice will remain open, in much the same way as dentists and opticians are still operating for appointments for people.

"Given the long-term nature of the pandemic, it is important from an animal welfare perspective that we can continue to provide a full pet healthcare service."

Since the pandemic first struck the country at the start of the year, Sam has also seen an increase in families buying and adopting pets.

As more people are working from home, it has allowed potential pet owners to spend more time with a puppy, kitten, hatchling, etc.

They have also proved to be a vital lifeline for those living alone, who may be in need of company during a time of limited interaction.

Sam said: "Pets have provided such a vital lifeline to boost mental and physical wellbeing for their owners, particularly with social restrictions in place.

"All the things we would normally encourage – such as puppy socialising, preventative care and nutrition advice –have been more difficult to access.

"As a consequence, the risk of disease due to delayed vaccinations has been a concern.

"There is also increased potential for unwanted litters of puppies and kittens, plus disease and behaviour problems associated with delayed neutering."

He offered advice to those who may be thinking of getting a new pet, especially in the build up to Christmas.

Sam, along with animal welfare experts across the country, has urged people thinking of getting a pet to make sure they have the budget, time, and commitment to raise and care for an animal.

He continued: "Ask yourself whether you have the time to fit your pet's care into your day when life returns to a more normal routine post pandemic.

"It's also important to think about responsible pet purchasing. This is particularly tricky right now given you can't visit the parents as easily.

"Your local vets can help with advice on the type of pet, and how you can prepare the right nutrition, activities, behaviour support and healthcare."

To find out more about how easipetcare can take care of your furry loved ones, visit its website.

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