While there will be times when you have to take a pet to a veterinary clinic to be seen by a medical specialist, some clinics also offer telehealth services. You can use these services remotely from your home or any other location, and they give you the chance to talk to a vet or nurse over email, video, text message, or phone call.

If you're looking for a new vet for your pet and are interested in using telehealth services, then look for clinics that offer the following options:

Teleadvice

Some veterinary clinics use teleadvice messages or videos to give pet owners general or targeted help. This advice doesn't typically cover medical problems, but it does tend to focus on general care. It is helpful if you want to learn more about looking after a pet.

For example, some vets put videos on their websites covering subjects such as nutrition, house training, grooming, and behavioral training. Some also let you book virtual appointments with a vet or nurse if you want individual advice.

Teletriage

Sometimes you aren't sure whether your pet is ill enough to need a trip to the vet or not. While you can schedule an appointment, you might not want to waste your vet's time or your own. However, you might worry that your pet will get sicker if you don't have them checked out. You might find it hard to get a quick appointment if your clinic is busy at that point.

A teletriage appointment allows you to talk to your vet at short notice. You can tell them about your pet's illness or problem so that they can give you advice on what to do next.

If your vet wants to see your pet, then they can arrange an appointment. If your pet doesn't have a serious problem, then they can give you advice on care at home.

Telemedicine

While vets do sometimes need to physically examine pets, they can sometimes diagnose and treat common conditions and illnesses remotely. This telemedicine approach often works best via video so that your vet can actually see your pet during the consultation.

If your pet has an obvious and non-serious illness or condition, then your vet can diagnose the problem, prescribe a treatment, and give you a few care tips. They can also use this appointment to assess whether you need to bring your pet into their clinic or not.

A telemedicine appointment can speed up the time it takes you to get your pet in front of your vet. This is particularly useful if you don't live close to your clinic or if you have problems getting to it.

To find out more, contact local veterinary services clinics and ask about their telehealth options.

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