Telemedicine for Pets
Telemedicine can be defined as the “art of practicing medicine at a distance.” During the pandemic, many people chose to or may have had no other choice but to share in telemedicine visits with their doctor. As a result, many people appreciated the convenience of being able to visit their doctor in the privacy of their own homes. Did you know that there is also telemedicine for pets? Here are a few frequently asked questions about pet telemedicine.
What Types of Issues Can Be Addressed at a Telemedicine Appointment?
Logically, not every type of physical concern of your pet is appropriate for a telemedicine appointment. For example, a dog that has been struck by a car or is bleeding for some other reason needs immediate, one-to-one physical treatment from a veterinarian.
A televisit with your veterinarian is ideal for situations such as flea allergies or mild diarrhea. Another example would be if your dog is having behavioral issues. Televisits are also great for follow-up appointments that your vet may have requested. Televisits with your vet are also especially helpful when all you needed to have done was get your dog’s prescription refilled.
How Can My Vet Diagnose My Pet Without Seeing Them in Person?
In a traditional vet appointment, a pet is diagnosed by examining the animal’s symptoms, taking its medical history into consideration, and giving it a physical examination.
The facts regarding the symptoms can be communicated just as effectively in a televisit, as if you brought your pet in person. The same goes for your pet’s medical history. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, all of this information is just as important as the physical examination.
Obviously, a physical examination is limited in a telemedicine appointment. However, your veterinarian may instruct you to check certain areas on your pet for a specific reason, such as their heart rate.
Your vet at this point should have enough information to make a proper diagnosis and begin treatment. Next, your vet might instruct you to do certain things at home to help your pet, and may also prescribe medication.
What If Telemedicine Can’t Treat My Pet’s Problem?
When you have your telemedicine appointment, you might find out that your vet needs to go ahead and see your pet in person. Perhaps your vet can prescribe your dog medicine for him to feel better, but for her to get to the root of the problem, she needs to do blood tests or an ultrasound.
Final Thought
Telemedicine is not only convenient; it is essential for some. Some pet owners are physically unable to bring their pets to a veterinary hospital. Others live so far out in the country that they don’t have any other option.