How Does Vet Telehealth Improve Human Health?
How Does Vet Telehealth Improve Human Health?
In a world during a time that is constantly being shaped and reshaped by human health, our pet’s health can have a larger impact than we think.
What Is Telehealth?
The definition of Telehealth is the provision of healthcare remotely by means of telecommunications technology. That’s a fancy way to say it is healthcare through remote means (e.g. video calls, messages, pictures, phone calls).
Telehealth for pets has historically been frowned upon by the AVMA, the American Veterinary Medical Association. They felt that pets should be seen in person to be evaluated and to receive care. Up until March 2020, when Covid-19 hit the US, the AVMA’s stance on Telehealth had been that Telehealth should be avoided and if it was needed due to an emergency, it shouldn’t be used to prescribe treatment or next steps.
As social distancing and city lockdowns occurred, the AVMA shifted its stance on Telehealth practices and tools. The association now encourages the use of Telehealth, as long as there is an established Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship, a VCPR. This means that there must be an established relationship between the vet and the pet prior to the use of Telehealth.
Why Vet Telehealth Now?
Telehealth has been gaining increasingly popular due to the social distancing requirements of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ability to continue monitoring the health of yourself and your pets via Telehealth is critical in times like these.
Covid-19 and Vet Telehealth
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found mostly in animals named after how the virus is shaped. In humans, they can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), and the new disease of Covid-19.
This novel coronavirus disease is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. Through Telehealth, one can avoid exposure to a potentially infected person for both their routine and emergency veterinary care. It provides reduced exposure to both veterinarians and pet owners.
An easy way as a pet owner to reduce the spread of Covid-19 is to practice social distancing, utilizing Telehealth and e-appointments for your pets. These practices also reduce the exposure for both veterinarians and pet owners to more common illnesses, like the common cold or the flu. Healthcare for pets now does not need to pause during stay-at-home orders.
Is Telehealth Right For Me?
If you want to learn more about if Telehealth is right for you and the benefits of vet e-appointments, check out another one of our blog posts here.
Vet Telehealth Means a Healthier You
With every appointment, emergency, or check-up, taking your pet into a veterinarian office turns into a big risk during a pandemic. Being able to reduce exposure to illnesses and diseases is huge. Not only is your pet able to spend more time at home with you now, but you can stay healthy to be able to take care of them too. Vet Telehealth is a game changer for both you, your veterinarian, your pet.
