Veterinary Telemedicine: How telemedicine can help manage chronic conditions in pets?

Telemedicine helps consumers manage a pet’s chronic disease, which improves dog care. In a survey done in April 2020 by The University of Tennessee Health Science Center ^[1] in collaboration with numerous veterinary clinics, nearly half of respondents believed that telemedicine would improve their pet’s long-term care. 

Fifty percent stated they’d be comfortable electronically monitoring and reporting results to a veterinarian. Only 15% of those polled stated they would be hesitant to use the technology.

“The ease with which telemedicine can be used will benefit the long-term care of dogs with chronic illnesses.” The technology encourages ongoing connection with the client, and virtual visits can cut down on the number of real visits to the clinic, which can be time-consuming and stressful for the pet. 

What is telemedicine?

Although it may sound futuristic, veterinary telehealth refers to virtual veterinary services, whereas veterinary telemedicine refers to digital exchanges between the veterinarian and the customer. This can include everything from texting, emailing photos, messaging, and video chats to the use of apps and wearable gadgets 

While pet parents are demanding a digital experience that matches their lives, vets may also profit from it. A telemedicine app helps pet parents care for a chronically ill pet and get the proper treatment at all times.

How telemedicine can help manage chronic conditions in pets?

Managing chronic illness in dogs is all about preparedness, from keeping track of their prescriptions and medications to knowing what to do if something goes wrong.

1) Medication administration and management

Chronic illness in pets frequently necessitates the use of a variety of prescription drugs. However, medicating a pet is not always easy! Often, questions arise regarding how to best administer the medication, dosing errors, non-compliant pet patients, and medication side effects.

Telemedicine is a useful tool to help dog owners get the answers they need in real-time. Additionally, technology can help pet parents remember complicated medication schedules. 

2) At home care

Pets often behave differently in the vet clinic than they do in the comfort of their own home. For this reason, telemedicine can be very valuable in allowing veterinarian to observe their patients in their day-to-day environment. 

When managing an injury or chronic illness, a host of factors come into play, including the dog’s activity level, bedding, bathroom habits, and diet. It is often imperative for the veterinarian to provide guidance to the cat owner as they attempt to adapt their animal’s home life based on their chronic illness or injury needs. 

Using telemedicine can allow the veterinarian a glimpse into that home life, which can help them understand the pet owner’s perspective. 

Other uses for telemedicine

1. Wellness advice in general

When we have a question that needs to be answered, many of us turn to the internet first. However, we are frequently confronted with a large number of results to go through in order to identify the most accurate source. 

A telemedicine service, supplied by email, the website, or text messaging, can help vets provide owners with trustworthy expert advice while also providing greater exposure and strengthening relationships.

There are so many applications available that provide free veterinarian assistance to animal owners who are concerned. While some veterinary facilities are considering adding chatbots to their sites to address owner concerns as a step toward telemedicine, this can be especially useful for out-of-hours queries and may even help with client recruitment.

2. Post-operative care

After an operation, post-surgical care is critical for a pet’s recuperation. Owners can use their smartphones to assist veterinarians in monitoring their dog’s condition. Veterinarians can maintain track of a patient’s post-operative recovery by having the owner send photographs of the incision site so they can see how it’s healing and catch any irregularities early on. 

Videos or video calls can assist the veterinarian in monitoring the animal’s behavior and movement in their home setting, minimizing the need to bring the pet into the clinic for a check-up, which can be inconvenient and potentially stressful.

Telemedicine capabilities are offered by some companies in the United States, expressly for clinics to plan virtual check-ups and post-op appointments. These companies integrate with the clinic’s existing software, enabling them to outsource the hassle of setting up telehealth while maintaining control over the services they provide.

3. Convenient care

Taking a pet to the veterinarian might be difficult if the animal does not enjoy the experience, is too large to be transported comfortably, is afraid of being in the car or among other pets, is a senior dog, or is seriously ill. 

Telemedicine provides dog owners with a feeling of peace and convenience, as it may cut down on trips to the vet clinic. 

cats, like people, necessitate constant attention. Patients and pet owners have an accessible, quick, and affordable choice for any after-hours care and support using telehealth, which promotes pet parents’ loyalty and confidence.

Article Sources:

1. “Survey of Client Perspective On The Use of Veterinary Telemedicine For Chronic Disease.” The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, dc.uthsc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1071&context=hiimappliedresearch.