Telehealth has been growing more popular in the digital age and is being utilized now more than ever. Using telehealth in the delivery of veterinary services offers many benefits for pet owners and provides them direct access to veterinary care in a convenient and safe manner. Telehealth services can facilitate communication, diagnostics, treatments, scheduling and other tasks with your veterinarian.

What is Telehealth vs. Telemedicine?

Telehealth includes all tech-enabled remote health activities or communications- think general advice, education, even monitoring devices like smart collars that communicate information on a pet's health status. Telehealth services may be provided through a veterinary assistant or technician, not necessarily a veterinarian. A diagnosis, prognosis or prescription can't be provided, only general advice.

Telemedicine is a virtual medical service that can only be provided by a licensed veterinarian. The veterinarian may diagnosis a condition, issue a prognosis, or prescribe a medication for your pet. Telemedicine is governed by veterinary practice laws which vary state to state. Some state laws require an established in-person veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) prior to allowing a telemedicine consultation. This means the service can only be provided by veterinarians who have seen your pet in the office first. 

 However, many people use both terms interchangeably or will use “telemedicine” for all aspects of telehealth.

Logistics of Telehealth

These days, telehealth doesn't just happen over video calls- you might use patient portals, share health data from smart collars, or upload photos, videos, and records through secure web apps. Some veterinary clinics automatically integrate virtual consult records into your pet's medical record. As with any medical consultation, it is good to keep detailed records if direct integration with your medical provider isn't available.

Tips for a Successful Telehealth Consult

• Treat your virtual consult as you would a normal in-office veterinary visit
• Designate a quiet area in your home to avoid distractions during your consult
• Prepare a list of questions and concerns in advance for discussion
• Share photos or videos (if applicable) prior to consult via email in an effort to allow your veterinarian more time to review any visible concerns

When to Utilize Telehealth

Telehealth is a great tool that can be used for all types of services as long as you have an already established relationship with your veterinarian. If you are seeking telehealth services with a new veterinarian or pet, only general veterinary advice may be given.

If you’re unsure whether your issue can be handled via a telehealth consult, call your veterinarian’s office and they can assist you in determining whether your pet’s needs can be discussed virtually or require an in-office visit.