Telemedicine for pets: What is it and how does it work

What is telemedicine?

By definition, telemedicine is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients, in this case your pet, by means of communicating through technology. This type of technology has been used for the last couple of years but has become much more common in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Not only can humans used telemedicine, but you can also use it to communicate with your vet too! Telemedicine gained a lot of popularity during the pandemic, and some pet parents prefer to continue with their visits this way. With life being so crazy, having to leave your house one less time on any given day is amazing. If you are a busy pet parent who is working full-time, you have kids to cart around, and your pets need attention too – telemedicine is a great option for you!

Now, not all vets use telemedicine technology, so make sure you check with them to see if they offer this kind of service. If your vet doesn’t offer this kind of treatment service, there are places that are specifically for telemedicine for pets that you can utilize such as Petzey. Petzey allows you and your pet to get real-time advice from a vet expert and its only $20 per consultation! Just download the app and complete your profile and you can be connected with a veterinary professional immediately from all 50 states.

How does it work?

Because telemedicine requires you to be online, you must have access to a computer, preferably with a webcam so you can be on video. With veterinary telemedicine, you will talk to a vet via text, phone, or video chat and get real-time advice on what you should do or get you for your pet. This is a great option if you don’t have time to drive to and from your vet’s office, or if your dog doesn’t like going to the vet and makes it a process.

It’s important to remember that this type of treatment isn’t a replacement for regular in-office visits, but if you’re in a pinch and need professional advice, veterinary telemedicine is a great option. This service can’t diagnose or prescribe medications for your pets if the vet hasn’t ever seen the dog in person, but if it is your regular vet using the telemedicine process, they do have the ability to diagnose and treat your dog.

Please note: if your dog needs immediate attention, please bring them to the nearest animal emergency clinic!

How do I know if telemedicine is right for me and my pet?

Telemedicine isn’t for every pet parent and their pet. But if you’re in a time crunch and have a busy week, try veterinary telemedicine out and see if you like it. If you do, then you can continue to use it.

Veterinary telemedicine is also a great option if your dog is scared of the vet and makes it difficult to go. If they don’t have any serious medical issues, and you just have some general questions, don’t put yourself or your pet through the stress of an in-person vet visit and try out veterinary telemedicine.