An order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday temporarily restricts non-essential veterinary procedures during the outbreak of COVID-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus.

The order defines "non-essential veterinary services" as all services other than those necessary to preserve the life of a pet; to treat serious pain that threatens the health and safety of a pet; to euthanize a pet; or to treat or prevent the transmission of any infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and human beings, as determined by a licensed veterinarian. The order, which goes into effect 5 p.m. Tuesday and continues while the declared emergency is in effect, encourages veterinarians and veterinary technicians to postpone non-essential services and to practice telemedicine as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

"While there is no evidence that pets can transmit COVID-19, we must take additional steps to promote social distancing," said Whitmer. "If we want to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19, all Michiganders must do their part, stay in their homes, and stay 6 feet away from others when they're outside. We've taken aggressive steps in the past three weeks to slow the spread of the virus, and I will continue to work every day to ensure we protect the most people we can." As previously reported by the Advance, Whitmer also signed an executive order earlier this month directing that all non-essential medical and dental procedures for humans be postponed until after the COVID-19 outbreak.



Medical procedures that must be postponed include: