Many people became familiar with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, telehealth existed before that, but it wasn’t used nearly as often. What exactly is telehealth? It is simply a term that encompasses all the ways technology can be used to deliver healthcare, information, and education remotely.
You might have used telehealth in the past, but did you know you can also use it for your dog? More and more veterinarians are offering telehealth services, which can make life easier for pet parents (particularly those in more rural areas who don’t have access to a local veterinarian). However, before you use telehealth for your canine companion, you should know more about it.
How Does It Work?
Telehealth simply means delivering health care services (in this case, veterinarian) and health information to people through telecommunication technology, such as digital and video technology, by providing consultation, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, care management, and education while the patient is located in one place and the provider is located in a different place. All that to say, telehealth works by connecting you to a veterinarian via technology. In many cases, this will be video technology, as video includes much more information for the veterinarian when assessing and diagnosing pets.
However, even video has its drawbacks, as veterinarians cannot touch or smell your pet. This means they need to use you as a proxy; a veterinarian may ask you to use the camera to show them parts of your dog’s body or feel around for any bumps or lumps.
Essentially, though, telehealth is just a vet visit, a way to get a quick answer about something, schedule appointments, etc.
What Are the Different Types of Telehealth for Dogs?
There are a plethora of services available under the telehealth umbrella.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is when medical information is exchanged from one place to another via technology. An example would be using a video call to let your vet visually observe your dog and their behavior when they are feeling unwell. Telemedicine for canines can enhance the care of your pet by facilitating scheduling, diagnostics, communication, treatments, and more.
Telemonitoring
Telemonitoring is a bit similar to telemedicine because it’s the remote monitoring of a patient who isn’t in the same location as the veterinarian. However, telemonitoring only involves monitoring; this monitoring could be done via a device like a portable glucose monitor or another wearable device.
Teletriage
You know what triage in a hospital is, but how does that translate to telehealth? Teletriage simply means that a veterinarian in a different location than their patient uses technology to provide a determination on whether a pet needs to go in to see a vet or not. Suppose your pup ate something they shouldn’t have and aren’t feeling well. Teletriage would give a vet an opportunity to advise whether your dog needs to physically see a veterinarian immediately.
Teleconsulting
This category of telehealth is when a vet uses technology to talk with a specialist to gain a better understanding of a patient’s condition.
Teleadvice
Teleadvice occurs when a veterinarian provides general guidance, recommendations, or health information about a patient; however, this advice isn’t specifically diagnosing or treating an injury or illness.
Mobile Health or mHealth
This category of telehealth is limited to mobile devices, so this could be something like an app on your phone that augments your dog’s healthcare.
E-Prescribing
This, of course, is when your veterinarian prescribes medicine for your pup via digital means.
Where Is It Used?
Telehealth can be used pretty much anywhere, which is one of the advantages of it. You could use telehealth when you’re at home and unable to leave because you’re sick, but your pup is also ill, and you want them to see a vet. Telehealth is especially good for those living in extremely rural areas without a veterinarian nearby. Telehealth can also be used by those who don’t have a means of transportation to get their dog to the vet when needed. There are numerous scenarios where telehealth would be more beneficial or convenient than bringing your dog to the veterinarian’s office. Telehealth for dogs offers several advantages, including the ability to have your pet seen by a vet when you can’t physically take them to the office. Additionally, telehealth allows your vet to observe your pet in their own environment, where they are most comfortable, avoiding the stress of a visit to the office. For veterinarians, telehealth can help manage high demand by utilizing technology for tasks such as scheduling and diagnosing minor conditions.
However, telehealth also comes with limitations. Vets can only diagnose based on what they see and hear through video, missing out on tactile and olfactory cues. Additionally, telehealth may serve as a preliminary step rather than a definitive solution, as some conditions may still require an in-person visit for a proper diagnosis.
Telehealth for dogs is legal but subject to varying state and local laws. It is suitable for general health advice, preventative care, minor conditions, and behavioral or nutritional guidance. While there is typically a charge for telehealth services, coverage by pet insurance may vary. Overall, telehealth offers a convenient option for seeking expert advice for your dog from the comfort of your home, especially in situations where a physical visit to the vet is challenging. sentence: “The cat chased the mouse around the house.”
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