Online Vets: myth versus Fact
Myth: Telemedicine can’t replace in-person visits to vet clinics.
Fact: Telemedicine is a convenient first step for essential pet care. While in some situations your pet might require a physical exam, telemedicine is ideal for follow-ups, behavioural advice, or non-urgent concerns for your animal companions.
Myth: You need access to advanced technology for telemedicine.
Fact: All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or computer with stable internet access. Most telemedicine platforms are user friendly. If you are not comfortable with technology, there are how-to video tutorials on navigating web conference tools, such as Zoom and Google Meets, easily accessible on YouTube, or the platforms’ websites.
Introduction
Online vets, also known as Digital Animal Services or Vet Telemedicine are transforming pet care, enhancing pet caregivers’ lives as well as the lives of their animal companions. Telehealth platforms designed to provide essential in-home care for your pets (“Pet Tech”), bring innovations aimed at improving your pet’s health, safety, and well-being—and your’s too.
Below, you will find some efficient digital pet care strategies to help you use online vets in caring for your furry companions. Whether or not you’re tech-savvy, we’ve got you covered.
What are Online Vets and What is Pet Tech?
The Pet Tech industry has grown rapidly, driven by advances in accessible telemedicine services, artificial intelligence, and the trend toward treating animal companions as family members. It gained significant momentum post-pandemic, when people were looking for accessible solutions for their pets’ health concerns. Telemedicine emerged as a way to provide essential veterinary care from the comfort of your home. It also allows veterinarians to offer the best care possible to more pets and contribute meaningfully to the animal services sector. Online vets are options for issues such as investigating minor behavioural challenges, managing chronic conditions, prescribing medications, and giving general advice.
Your Pet’s Medical Records
To prepare for your telehealth vet visit, make sure you have an updated copy of your pet’s medical history if possible, including vaccination records and documentation from routine check-ups, emergencies, or in-person vet visits. Keeping these records organized ensures that they are easily accessible for your online consultations.
Is it an Emergency?
Take a quick look at First Aid for Pets to assess urgency before going down the path of starting your search for online vet care. Some things can’t wait and you should head straight to your vet or a local emergency pet hospital.
Accessible and Affordable Online Veterinary Services
There are affordable telemedicine veterinary services that provide 24/7 access in Canada. Telemedicine bridges the gap for people who have challenges accessing vet offices, especially in remote regions. They can also connect you with local veterinarians to enhance the overall well-being of your pets. To help you assess the services available in Canada, read about some options below.
Telemedicine Options for Pets in Canada
Several Canadian companies now offer online vets, connecting you with licensed veterinarians for expert advice, diagnosis, and treatment plans for your animal companions.
Some platforms offer free consultations, so you can ask questions and try them out before deciding whether their service is right for you.
Before using a telemedicine service, you should check their privacy policy to make sure your private data (including financial information) is protected.
Tele-Vet
www.tele-vet.ca
Tele-Vet is a 24/7 platform offering remote consultations with certified veterinarians and technicians. You can browse available veterinarians, see their consultation rates, and book appointments.
You simply need to select your vet tech, book your appointment, and a video consultation link will be directly emailed to you.
Pricing:
Tele-Vet partners with Homeless Pet Canada so when you adopt a pet, you will receive a 20% discount for the first 60 days in accessing their services.
- Your meet and greet session with a vet technician is free of cost.
- Sessions with vet technician support range $25 to $55.
- Sessions with veterinarians range from $55 to $80.
Plans include:
- Bronze Plan: 5% off on every consultation and unlimited access to peace-of-mind resources.
- Silver Plan: This plan includes all bronze benefits in addition to 10% off on every consultation, and unlimited chats with veterinary professionals.
- Gold Plan: This includes benefits from the silver plan in addition to 15% off on every consultation. Additionally, it includes 2 to 6 video calls with veterinarians. There is no initial set up cost which means you can pay marketplace price as per your appointment; and you gain unlimited access to the peace-of-mind resources.
Metavet
www.metavet.ca
A telehealth platform connecting you with certified veterinarians for essential care, including consultations, diagnoses, and follow-up services for your animal companions.
Metavet is available from Apple & Google Play Store, making the vet telemedicine services more accessible. It connects with you instantly with certified veterinarians for full-service care via telemedicine, including consultations, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions and follow-up care all in one secure platform. Metavet is also a connection platform for services such as a registered veterinary technician, dog walker, groomer, pet sitter, behaviourist, nutritionist, boarding, and training professionals. They also offer holistic alternatives so you can connect with a veterinarian that specializes in holistic care.
Pricing:
- Veterinarian sessions within regular business hours (8am-8pm) cost $69.99 plus taxes.
- For a session during overnight hours (8pm-8am), the price is $89.99 plus taxes.
- Other specialists’ prices will vary based on education, experience, and service being provided.
Smart.Vet
www.smartvet.ca
Smart.Vet provides 24/7 remote on-call services, allowing you to book appointments in three easy steps: select service, complete booking, and connect with a veterinary professional via an e-meeting. Smart-Vet can collaborate with your local vet clinic to ensure both virtual and in-person care is provided to your animal companions. They coordinate with the vet clinic directly when they can’t help remotely. You complete the registration process in simple steps, such as signing up with your Google account and it will ask you to create your username and password as part of the registration process.
Smart.Vet encourages the use of video conferencing but if not possible, you can simply add your phone number in the intake form for a phone call consultation.
Once you are a member of Smart-Vet, you can access your activity log on the dashboard where you can check for the consultation updates, upcoming appointments, and any additional notes. The activity is reflected from the last 48 hours on your dashboard.
Pricing:
Consultations cost
- $130 plus taxes for dogs;
- $140 plus taxes for small mammals
- $165 plus taxes for other exotic animals.
Telus Health MyPet
Telus Health MyPet will provide you with training advice, behavioural tips, and expert responses to non-emergency questions. Treatments provided by Telus Health include preventative care, triage, allergies, nutritional and weight management, upset stomach, parasite control, life stages advice, minor infections, behavioural issues, and chronic disease management. To access care for your pet:
- Download the application
- Register for your free account and create your pet’s profile
- Schedule a virtual video consultation.
Telus Health MyPet is supported on Apple iPhones running iOS 15 or higher.
- You will need to have access to a stable internet connection.
- You will have a consultation with a vet technician for assistance with nutrition, behavioural and training concerns (available across Canada).
- You can get medications prescribed by a vet on the app and delivered to your door (available in British Columbia and Ontario only).
- You can select a practitioner of your choice and rebook with a familiar face for continuity of care.
- Last, you can access articles written by pet experts on health tips and preventative care for your pet(s).
Pricing:
- Veterinary consultations are $95, plus applicable taxes.
- If medication is prescribed as a result of the consultation, you will be charged a prescription service fee of $30, plus applicable taxes.
- Consultations with a vet technician are $40, plus applicable taxes.
Following your consultation, you will be provided with a receipt. Consultation fees may be discounted from time to time.
Vetster
Vetster offers a subscription plan, offering 24/7 virtual veterinary appointments, including video consultations, personalized care plans, and prescriptions. Its features include vet appointments available 24/7, access to online prescriptions and refills, diagnostic testing, digital health history, and custom treatment plans. To book your appointment with Vester:
- Download the Vetster mobile app for Android or Apple devices and fill out your profile. Also, you can join your appointment from your desktop, through a web browser.
- Book the veterinary professional of your choice. Search by location, availability and species treated. Then, connect with them via video call to receive veterinary care for your furry allies.
- You will receive your appointment medical record and prescription (regional/vet permitting) upon completion.
Pricing:
- Vetster Plus offers an annual subscription plan for $10 per month (or $120 per year), with the option to cancel anytime. This plan includes four virtual vet appointments, valued at $320, unlimited live chat for quick answers to pet health questions, a 5% discount on prescription service fees, and coverage for all pets.
- There is also a per-appointment option available for a one-time fee starting at $55. This includes a single online veterinary appointment and covers one pet only.
Summary
Online vets can help you find expert advice for your pet, save on transportation, and have your questions addressed quickly. Whether you’re dealing with your pet’s routine health concerns or chronic conditions, telemedicine empowers you to care for your pet with expert guidance.
Related Resources:
References for Online Vets and Telemedicine
Cushing, M. (2020, 11 18). The Ontario Experience: Current State of Telemedicine in Ontario. Veterinary Virtual Care Association. https://vvca.org/the-ontario-experience-current-state-of-telemedicine-in-ontario/
Paglinawan, D. (2021, 05 26). Pet owners turn to telehealth platforms amid lengthy vet backlogs due to pandemic. City News Everywhere. https://calgary.citynews.ca/2021/05/26/pet-owners-turn-to-telehealth-platforms-amid-lengthy-vet-backlogs-due-to-pandemic/
