Pet Telehealth: How Does It Work? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

Many aspects of living with dogs have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has caused many people to become familiar with using virtual pet services, and it’s even become the preferred choice for many dog owners.

One virtual pet service that has gained a lot of traction in recent years is pet telehealth. Pet telehealth services bring veterinary care straight to people’s homes. It’s made access to veterinary care more convenient and affordable. While it can’t fully replace traditional veterinary clinic visits, it can be an excellent supplementary service that helps keep your dog happy and healthy.

Because the term “pet telehealth” is often used to describe a wide range of services, it can get confusing to navigate the world of virtual pet health services. Here’s what you need to know about pet telehealth and how it can benefit your dog.

How Does It Work?

Pet telehealth connects clients to veterinary professionals through telecommunication. It enables dog owners to virtually connect with a licensed veterinarian, veterinary technician, veterinary assistant, and other veterinary professionals and ask questions about their dog’s health and well-being.

When using pet telehealth, you’ll often hear about the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). VCPR is a legal term used to describe an established relationship between a veterinarian, a client, and their pet in which the client and veterinarian share an understanding and agree that the veterinarian will treat the pet. VCPRs enable veterinarians to provide veterinary care, keep and track pet records, make diagnoses, and prescribe medicine and treatment.

The level of care a telehealth service can provide will depend on VCPRs. If a VCPR has been established, veterinarians can diagnose and prescribe medication. If it hasn’t been established, the pet telehealth service can only triage calls and offer general advice.

What Are the Different Types of Pet Telehealth?

Pet telehealth is a general umbrella term for virtual services that provide health education and care to remote clients and their pets. It’s typically divided into two categories: pet tele-triage and telemedicine.

1. Tele-triage

Tele-triage refers to a veterinary health professional providing health assessments through electronic communication, including email, text messages, live chat, and video calls. While veterinarians commonly make assessments through tele-triage, you can also be connected with a veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant.

It’s important to note that tele-triage can’t be used to make diagnoses or prescribe medication for pets. It’s most often used for general health questions and providing the next steps for caring for your dog. Tele-triage services will typically inform you if your dog requires immediate veterinary care or if you can wait until the next morning to get your dog to see a veterinarian. They’ll also let you know how you can care for your dog at home until they can see a veterinarian.

2. Telemedicine

Telemedicine offers more thorough services than tele-triage, but it usually requires an existing relationship between a licensed veterinarian and their client. Therefore, it’s most often offered as an additional service from veterinary practices and isn’t seen as a replacement for in-person appointments. States have their own laws on the requirements that veterinarians must meet to offer telemedicine to their clients. Also, depending on the state you live in, a veterinarian may be able to diagnose diseases and prescribe medication and treatments.

Where Is It Used?

Pet telemedicine is often used as an additional service provided by veterinary practices. It usually involves an on-call veterinarian at your veterinary clinic. The scope of services will depend on the veterinary practice. Some veterinary practices offer telemedicine for clients who need to make follow-up calls after an in-person appointment. They may also take emergency calls and offer health assessments and diagnoses.

Veterinary practices may offer tele-triage, and it’s often offered by pet insurance companies as an additional perk for customers who enroll their dogs in a pet insurance plan. You can also find several pet telehealth companies that offer subscription-based tele-triage services. Pet tele-triage is most often used in after-hours situations where people need guidance with helping and taking care of their pet after an accident or injury.

Advantages of Pet Telehealth

There are several notable advantages to using pet telehealth. First, it can be more cost-efficient and help you save time, as virtual appointments are typically cheaper. You also don’t have to drive to a physical veterinary office for your appointment. Therefore, it’s a particularly convenient option for people who live in areas that don’t have close access to veterinary clinics or animal hospitals.

Using pet telehealth can also benefit pets that tend to get anxious during traveling or sitting in the vet’s office waiting room. They can just get examined in the comfort and familiarity of their own home without feeling afraid or uncomfortable.

Lastly, many pet telehealth services are open 24/7, so you can have access to a veterinarian if your pet gets into an accident late at night. It’s also worth noting that pet telehealth services may offer phone calls, video calls, and text communication, so customers are more likely to contact a telehealth veterinarian more frequently. If something feels off about your dog, you can simply start a chat with a veterinarian rather than drive them to a veterinary clinic.

Disadvantages of Pet Telehealth

The most significant disadvantage of pet telehealth is its limited scope of services. For example, pet telehealth can’t sufficiently replace annual checkups because pets need a thorough physical examination to make accurate health assessments.

Also, since pet telehealth appointments can’t go as in-depth as traditional veterinary clinic visits, it’s possible for your pet to have to visit a veterinarian anyway. It’s fairly common for telehealth veterinarians to recommend that clients schedule a follow-up in-person appointment for further examination for more complicated health issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do all states allow pet telemedicine?

It’s important to check with your state to determine if it recognizes pet telemedicine as a viable means of diagnosing and treating pets. You can start obtaining information through the laws under your State Veterinary Practice Act.

While not all states recognize pet telemedicine, you’ll usually have easier access to pet tele-triage in any state. This is because pet tele-triage offers more basic services than pet telemedicine.

Is pet telehealth cheaper than traditional veterinary appointments?

Pet telehealth appointments are generally cheaper than traditional veterinary appointments. However, fees usually vary significantly depending on the type of service you require. For example, you can find some pet tele-triage services that cost less than $20 per call. Telemedicine appointments cost more, and prices will increase depending on the complexity of the issue.

Different pet telehealth companies also have their own system for charging clients. Some companies offer a subscription-based model with different membership tiers. You can also find companies that provide a la carte appointments and discounted prices for purchasing appointment packages.

Does pet insurance cover pet telehealth?

Some pet insurance companies offer coverage for pet telehealth services. However, it is possible that you’ll have to pay for general pet telehealth calls out-of-pocket. Therefore, make sure to verify with a pet insurance company that they offer coverage for pet telehealth before purchasing a pet insurance policy. Some pet insurance companies also offer their own pet telehealth service exclusively to their clients.

Conclusion

Pet telehealth services can be categorized under tele-triage and telemedicine. While these services can’t adequately replace traditional in-person veterinary appointments, they can still benefit your dog significantly. Pet telehealth can help you save time and money by providing easier and more convenient access to veterinary professionals, and it can guide you through helping your dog in urgent situations. It’s also a particularly viable option to consider if you live in an area with limited access to veterinary care services.

Featured Image Credit: Josep Suria, Shutterstock