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While it may seem like a real luxury to be able to have your pet checked out from the comfort of your own home, it’s important to know that telehealth can’t offer complete care for your pet, as some states have strict laws about prescribing medications online. Here, we go over which states allow online vet prescriptions, so you’ll know whether an online or in-person visit is best for you.
What Is Required for a Veterinarian to Prescribe Medications?
Having a veterinary license doesn’t give vets the power to give out medications however they see fit. Rather, they are bound by rules and regulations that require them to have a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with the animal in need. They must have personal knowledge of the pet, meaning they have seen and kept records of them. Sometimes, this means the vet has to see the pet in person, and other times, the relationship can be established virtually. There is also often a specified timeframe; for example, your vet may need to have seen your dog within the last 12 months in order to prescribe medication.
Maintaining a VCPR is not a hoop to jump through; it’s to ensure the safety of your pet. You don’t want to get a medication that a vet prescribed without really knowing what is going on with your pet, and a good vet doesn’t want to potentially put your pet in harm’s way due to not understanding the whole issue.
Besides telemedicine, which can be practiced only if VCPR is established, there are other instances where a different type of advice can be provided to pet owners, not requiring a VCPR. These are teleadvice services that provide basic answers to a pet owner’s questions focusing on education and preventative care, while teletriage is determining whether an animal needs to be seen by a veterinarian urgently. These types of services cannot provide a prescription as they are not able to establish a VCPR.
VCPR Definition in Different States
Please note that VCPR as a term is not defined or used in the states of Connecticut, Michigan, and in the District of Columbia. VCPR cannot be established through telemedicine in eight states (California, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington).
The remaining states have different rules and legislation in how a VCPR can be established/maintained and how it can be done through telemedicine, many of which require the pet to be seen or the vet acquainted with them, although this hasn’t been well defined, or they require an in-person physical examination in order for VCPR to be maintained.
Oklahoma is currently the only state that has allowed the VCPR to be established through telemedicine only, without a physical examination, due to the remoteness of the area and difficulty for people to always be able to reach a clinic.
What States May Allow Online Vet Prescriptions?
When it comes to online vet prescriptions, the VCPR and how it can be established is the deciding factor. The difference in how a state allows a veterinarian, client, and patient to enter into a valid VCPR determines whether and to what extent pet owners can get online prescriptions.
Getting Online Vet Prescriptions From Your Current In-Person Vet
| States | All 50 |
| Potential Restrictions | The pet needs to be seen in person within the past 6-12 months, depending on individual state legislation |
If you speak to your current vet via a telehealth appointment, the same one you see when you take your pet to the clinic where they are registered, they can prescribe medication as long as they have seen your animal in person in the last 12 months, depending on your pet’s condition. You already have a valid VCPR with regular record keeping.
Of course, all vets can recommend seeing your pet first if they feel that hands-on diagnostics are necessary. This is a common way to get refills on current prescriptions or things like regular flea-and-tick or heartworm preventatives.
States That Allow for Online VCPR and Prescriptions
| States that require a pet to be seen/vet to be acquainted with them | Indiana, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, South Dakota *Note that there is no definition of what “to be seen/acquainted with” entails |
| States that require a physical examination | Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
| States that set a time limit | Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington |
| States with prescription exception | New Jersey and Virginia |
| Potential Restrictions | Timeframe, state of licensing, the requirement to see/become acquainted with the pet, or in-person physical examination |
New Jersey and Virginia allow telemedicine to be used if the veterinarian needs to prescribe an opioid or controlled substance.
From this table, it’s clear that three states do not recognize or define the term VCPR at all, while eight states have forbidden for VCPR to be established through telemedicine. The remaining states have several restrictions when it comes to setting up a VCPR. Eight states allow for an online VCPR if the pet was seen or the vet has been acquainted with them, but it remains unclear if this relationship can be established virtually or if it has to be in person.
There are however 24 states which strictly say that VCPR can only be established after a physical examination of the animal has been completed, and six of these states have put a time limit on how long a VCPR remains valid for after a clinical examination. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get an online prescription, but it implies that the prescription can only be issued by your vet’s clinic, as they are the ones who have established a VCPR with you and your pet after performing a clinical exam, as long as the time limit has been respected. Oklahoma remains the only state so far to allow for a virtual VCPR, meaning online prescriptions can be issued.
You may still seek veterinary advice or a triage service online without the vet having seen your pet beforehand, but in the majority of cases, you will not be able to get a prescription. If you require a prescription, depending on the state, you will need to seek one out from your vet, either in person, if your pet has not been examined for more than 12 months, or virtually, as long as you have an established VCPR with your vet that is allowed and defined by the state you’re living in.
There may be certain restrictions related to the state legislation and the timeframe in which the pet was last seen by a vet, or the vet may only be able to prescribe medication to pets that live in a state they are licensed. For example, a vet licensed in Indiana may only prescribe to pets living in that state. The types of medications that can be prescribed are also at the discretion of the vet, and some may require a physical exam.
Virtual Pet Care as a Whole
It’s important to keep in mind that the world of virtual pet care is ever-evolving, and states change their stance frequently. If virtual pet care and online vet prescriptions are the most suitable healthcare methods for you, you’ll need to learn your specific state’s requirements. Also, check out a local veterinary telehealth company, as they will be knowledgeable of all the applicable rules and regulations.
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Conclusion
Telehealth and veterinary medicine have a dynamic relationship that is continuously being tweaked and changed. Telehealth will never be able to replace an in-person veterinary clinical exam or diagnostic procedures, but it may complement it in certain ways, by providing support and advice to pet owners. There are states that may allow for online VCPR to be established and maintained if all defined requirements have been met, but at the moment, most of them require a physical exam and have set a time limit for how long a VCPR is valid for based on when the pet was last examined by the vet. Also, states alter their stance and laws around veterinary telehealth at a fairly rapid pace, so the rules that are there now might not be there tomorrow.
If you have any questions about veterinary telehealth and getting prescriptions online, reach out to your veterinarian or ask a vet telehealth service.
Featured Image Credit: Iryna Imago, Shutterstock
2 Responses
The reason I asked about whether Florida requires my dog be seen in person even though she’s been to the same vet for several years now, is because it seems like EVERY TIME we take her in for a routine visit, they try to convince us that she needs, or has to have, several very expensive lab tests and other things done. Our dog has NEVER had any health problems or issues, and she’s NEVER even been sick in her 10+ years of life. Due to the current economic crisis, we just don’t have the extra $500-$1000 or more to have unnecessary blood work and lab tests done. Not to mention the outrageous costs for the veterinarian to see her, the lab tech to do the tests, the cashiers and the janitors to do their jobs! Just a simple physical ends up costing us between $500 & $1000 or more! And these are the lowest cost vets of the local ones nearby where we live. I’m sick and tired of paying for these veterinary clinics glamorous and extravagant office facilities! IT’S RIDICULOUS! Any suggestions or recommendations you might have for a mobile vet who can come to our home would be greatly appreciated. We would also appreciate your opinion on how we can legally obtain a prescription for our dog’s TRIFEXIS medication that she’s been on since she was born. Thanks for your help!
Hello Matthew,
Thank you for your very frank message. We understand your frustration with the rising costs of veterinary care and the push for additional testing. It's completely understandable to want to avoid unnecessary expenses, especially in the current economy.
Regarding the legal requirements for prescription medication like TRIFEXIS, in most U.S. states, including Florida, a veterinarian is legally required to examine your dog and establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) before they can prescribe any medication. This means they must see your dog in person, usually at least once a year, to ensure the medication is still appropriate and safe for her current health status. Unfortunately, the law is designed to require a physical exam to renew prescriptions.
As far as the mobile vet go, we can't sadly give you any recommendation, but we have a great alternative. You can book a 20-minute video-call consultation with one of our professional veterinarians from www.PangoVet.com. Our vets will gladly answer all your questions and give you recommendations and tips. This is ideal for consultations that don't necessarily require in-person visits.
Hope this helps.