Q: Dr. Bob, in your experience where do you think telehealth or triage can really be beneficial?

A: There are definitely scenarios where a video chat has helped immensely. It’s no secret that most animals do not enjoy visiting a veterinary office; they are anxious and so unlike themselves. So seeing an animal in their home where they are at ease and comfortable, we can see their mannerisms and behaviour for what it is. Also, being able to see their litterbox, where they sleep, can also be helpful depending on the reason for the call.

Q: What do you like about working in veterinary telehealth?

A: People feel like they have more time so they ask a lot of questions. They appreciate the one on one time as they have the vet’s full attention until the chat disconnects. Not only are their animals at ease, but they often are too (depending on the situation of course).

Q: What don’t you like about working in veterinary telehealth?

A: We can get busy, which is great because it means people are using the service but we never want to keep anyone waiting to chat. There are also regulatory restrictions that exist with veterinary telehealth such as not being able to prescribe medication which isn’t ideal.  That said, this service has been able to provide countless hours of support and have saved our members time and money, which is fantastic!

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