What to Know Before Your First Telehealth Vet Appointment
Key takeaways:
A vet can diagnose your pet through telehealth only if you have an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).
You can schedule a virtual visit with any vet for general questions and other pet services.
Taking photos and videos of your pet ahead of time could make your telehealth appointment run more smoothly.
We’ve spent the past year successfully learning how to engage in telehealth appointments with our healthcare providers. Now it’s time to adapt to virtual visits with veterinarians. After all, our pets need care too, and telehealth is convenient, affordable, and easy to navigate.
A telehealth appointment between you and a veterinarian works a lot like it does between you and your own healthcare provider. The technology is similar as are the care options like seeking advice or asking for a diagnosis. But there are differences.
For instance, what should you do if you don’t think your pet will cooperate during a live video visit? Or should you use telehealth in an emergency?
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It’s important to know how to handle telehealth issues with a pet before you schedule your first veterinary telehealth appointment. Here’s what you need to know.
Which veterinary services are available via telehealth?
Telehealth services for pet owners range from mobile apps that monitor your animals to video platforms that allow vets to diagnose and treat your furry loved ones from afar.
Diagnosis and treatment: A telehealth vet can diagnose and treat your pet as long as the veterinarian has examined your pet in person in the past.
Education: To discuss things like behavioral training tips, food brands, or best flea and tick medications, you can speak to any telehealth vet on any app or platform.
Urgent care: In an emergency, you can connect with any telehealth veterinarian and ask if your pet should be seen in person.
Prescription refills: Many telehealth apps offer medication refill services, depending on the state you live in.
How can I find a telehealth veterinarian?
Your current veterinarian may be on a telehealth app or may be practicing telehealth on their own. Call and ask. If they don’t offer telehealth services, try other vets in your area.
For general questions and advice, look for animal care apps on your mobile phone’s app store or online. Read the descriptions and ratings for each until you find one that suits your needs.
Is telehealth covered by pet insurance?
Pet insurance typically covers issues like injuries, minor and major illnesses, and some prescription medications. But whether or not insurance covers telehealth care is up to your pet’s health plan. If you have or are thinking about getting pet insurance, ask if it covers telehealth. If it does, find out your out-of-pocket costs before scheduling a telehealth visit.
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Can a veterinarian diagnose my pet without an in-person physical exam?
It depends. Only a vet with an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) can diagnose and treat your pet. VCPR is the term used to describe an existing relationship between a pet and a veterinarian.
This typically means that your pet must have had an in-person physical exam performed by the veterinarian, usually within the past year, before they are able to prescribe medications. The only exception is if your pet has an emergency and you need immediate advice until you can see a vet in person.
You don’t need a prior relationship with a vet if you’re seeking house training tips or general educational advice. A vet on any televet app can help you with those.
How do veterinary telehealth appointments work?
Telehealth is a broad term that encompasses a variety of digital technologies. These platforms allow you to interact with a healthcare provider or, in this case, a veterinarian. Veterinary telehealth services, also known as televet services, can be conducted via:
Telephone calls
Text messaging
Email or other e-messaging apps
Video visits
Monitoring devices
The type of communication you choose depends on the service your pet needs. For example, if you need a medication refill, you may be able to send your request in a text or an email. If you want to ask about cat food brands or discuss your pooch’s behavior problems, you may want to schedule a phone consultation.
For this post, we’re going to focus primarily on video visits. There are a couple ways to hold a video session with a vet: live with your pet present or live without your pet.
Video visits with your pet
Video visits allow veterinarians to observe your pet in real time. Your vet can look closely at a wound, watch your animal walk, or study your furry one’s disposition. In fact, a vet can examine skin rashes, eye and ear infections, and movement issues, all on video.
But live video visits don’t work in all circumstances. You may have a dog that barks nonstop or a cat that hides under a bed. Plus, an animal that’s experienced trauma, such as a fall, gash, or other emergency, should be seen in person, not on video.
Video visits without your pet
Sometimes it’s best to take photos or videos of your pet and send them to your virtual vet in advance. This gives the vet time to study your cat or dog’s behavior, injury, or illness without putting your pet on the spot. Not all pets will cooperate on real-time video. Taking photos or videos ahead of time ensures the vet can see the problem.
How to prepare for your telehealth vet visit
You will need to gather several items to prepare for your telehealth visit. These items will depend on your relationship with the veterinarian. If you’re meeting with a vet who has examined your pet in the past, you may only need to jot down details of the current issue. For a vet you’ve never seen before, you may also need:
Your pet’s medical history
Vaccine records
Flea, tick, and heartworm updates
As with any telehealth meeting, you’ll want to get your technology ready ahead of time. Make sure your cell phone or computer can support your vet’s app. Also test the audio and video before your appointment. Sit in a quiet, well-lit room with a strong internet connection.
You can prep your pet as well if you plan on putting them in front of the camera. Corral your pet in a crate or closed off room. Consider putting a leash on your dog if they tend to run away from you. Calm your pet by talking softly or petting them gently until their camera time is over.
The bottom line
You don’t have to look far to find veterinary telehealth services for your pet. Just remember that only a vet with an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with your animal can diagnose and treat pets virtually. For all other animal care, you can choose from a long list of televet apps for your telehealth visits.
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