Virtual Vet Visits: What You Need to Know

After joining a telehealth visit with your physician, you may be wondering if there are virtual vet appointments for your pets — and there are! It's just a matter of determining whether a virtual visit would be enough or if a visit to your local veterinarian's office is required.

Use this guide to determine when it would be best to talk to a vet online, what to expect and how to prepare.

What to Expect

Virtual tools are used to conduct a telehealth veterinary visit. There are many different options for connecting, with some of the most popular being apps that allow you to directly message your veterinary team or schedule a video conference appointment instead of being seen in person.

Direct messaging is as simple as it sounds. This allows pet parents to talk to a vet online through instant messaging or by uploading pre-recorded videos or pictures for the vet to review. Virtual vet appointments are also simple! Pet parents can schedule appointments that will take place via video conferencing. There's no specific time frame for these appointments; some may last only five minutes while others may take an entire hour. The appointment time will be dependent on the need — just like they are for in-person visits.

However, there are some differences between in-office appointments and virtual ones. Most obviously is that your pet won't get a "hands on" experience. Your vet won't be able to weigh your pet or physically examine them. The veterinarian can only listen to your description of signs and perform a visual examination from what they can see via the video camera.

Claudine Sievert, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas and veterinary consultant at CatPet.club, explains, "An online visit means that the vet cannot do a full clinical examination. The vet cannot see the colour of the mucosa (or gum/inside of lip); they cannot palpate the animal or auscultate the lungs. This can be challenging if the pet parent wants a final diagnosis. That is why many times online vets can give you advice regarding the pet's condition, but not the final diagnosis". This means your veterinarian cannot use a stethoscope to listen to your pet's lungs or heart and cannot feel that lump that you might be describing. Additionally, they cannot administer medication or a vaccination.

What Types of Visits Qualify?

If you're interested in having your pet examined virtually, you may be unsure of what type of appointments would qualify for a virtual vet visit.

Qualifying Appointments

Pet parents may choose to meet virtually with their vet for check-ups and follow-up appointments.

Sievert says that pet parents "with a pet-related problem can seek advice or a second opinion. The vet can advise about nutrition, breeding, treatments, surgical procedures, vaccination protocols, external and internal parasite prevention and more. The vet can also give their opinion concerning clinical signs and possible health conditions".

Still unsure whether your needs qualify for a virtual vet visit? Quite often, your vet or their office staff will be able to help you understand whether a virtual or an in-person appointment is needed. Some veterinary offices will require a phone screening, or they may use an app that will allow you to chat with the office staff and upload pictures before scheduling an actual virtual appointment.

Sievert also shares, "If an online vet estimates that the condition is too critical, they will advise the pet parent to go to the emergency vet clinic".

When to Seek Emergency Care

Whether you use your own decision-making or rely on a conversation with the veterinarian to make a choice, some visits will require emergency care, and you'll want to head to an emergency clinic immediately.

Sievert suggests seeking emergency treatment in the following situations:

• Persistent bleeding for more than 10 minutes

• Car accidents, which can cause internal bleeding

• Seizures of any kind

• Difficult labour or prolonged labour in a pregnant dog

• Bloated abdomen or stomach

• Persistent vomiting, which may be a sign of a poisoning

• Unusual, heavy breathing or difficulty breathing

This list does not cover all possible emergencies, so if you think your pet may need emergency care, always err on the side of caution and seek treatment. If you are ever unsure, the easiest thing to do is give your local vet a call, or an emergency vet if something occurs after normal business hours. While not as extensive as a virtual vet visit, describing your pet's symptoms over the phone will give your veterinarian a quick understanding of the situation and will enable them to determine if a virtual visit, a clinical visit or an emergency visit is necessary. In emergency situations, this call also lets the animal hospital know that you're on the way with your pet, so they can be prepared to help them as quickly as possible — sometimes this extra notice can be the difference between life and death.

Can Vets Prescribe Medication Virtually?

Yes! Sievert confirms that medications can be prescribed after a virtual visit, and they can even be sent to an online pharmacy which will mail many prescriptions to your home. As an example, if you need a refill on your pet's flea and tick medications, you can request and fill this medication in a virtual appointment. Having access to a vet and prescriptions for your pet is especially helpful in a time of social distancing, though it's also convenient at any time.

Not all medications can be prescribed via a virtual vet appointment, though. Sievert explains, "When it comes to sedatives, heart medications, immunosuppressive treatment and hormones, the vet needs to perform a detailed clinical examination and blood test before the prescription".

How to Prepare to Talk to a Vet Online

Being prepared for an online visit will help you get the most from your appointment. Your vet will have questions for you to answer, specifically related to the reason you're seeking care, and also about your pet's overall behaviour, actions and appearance.

To get ready, make sure that whatever device you're using, be it a computer, tablet or phone, is able to connect to the conferencing tool your vet uses. You may want to do a trial run in advance by video conferencing with a friend or family member to test your audio and video capabilities. Make sure the area is well lit and quiet, and you can prop up your phone while you hold your pet in front of the camera.

Here's a list of questions Sievert suggests pet parents think about before connecting:

• What is the pet's breed, age and gender? Your vet may have this information in their files, but if they're having trouble accessing it, you can supply them with the answers.

• What are you currently doing about vaccinations, deworming and tick prevention?

• What clinical signs are concerning you right now?

• When did the problem you are seeking treatment for begin?

• What was the initial diagnosis if your pet was seen by another veterinarian first? If you're seeking a second opinion, what was the initial treatment?

• Are there any relevant pictures or videos that can help the vet?

Virtual appointments with your vet can be very convenient if you want to talk to a vet online, but remember, a relationship must already exist before you are able to access care in this manner. In addition, virtual vet guidelines may be different depending on location, so it's important to do your research ahead of time.