Veterinary telemedicine can be an important resource, as well as a sustainable one, when it comes to the wellbeing of our animals. Let's find out how.
Veterinary telemedicine is now a reality for our pets. It is worth clarifying that this is not a new area of specialisation, but rather a different way of delivering a healthcare service that makes use of technological tools to facilitate communication and make veterinary care more sustainable and accessible, reducing travel, clinic visits, waiting times and the resulting stress on our four-legged friends. We discuss this with Dr Cinzia Ciarmatori, veterinary surgeon, who holds a master's degree focused on new technologies in medicine and has been working in this field for a number of years.
Telemedicine has been studied in all its aspects by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2005. It is therefore not a "recent invention" tied to the demands of the period we are living through. As regards its application in veterinary medicine, as far back as 2018, well before the pandemic emergency, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe was already actively working on the subject.
The restrictions associated with the pandemic certainly accelerated a process that had already been under way for some time and was driven above all by the needs and wellbeing of our four-legged friends. With one important caveat: telemedicine can in no circumstances replace an in-person veterinary visit. It can, however, integrate very well into clinical practice because it allows for a first therapeutic approach, on the basis of which the patient can be directed, at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner, to a specific referral facility. It can also make it possible to establish an excellent monitoring system for pets with chronic conditions, with the great advantage of sparing owners and, above all, animals from travel, reducing the stress of transport and time spent in surgeries and clinics.
Veterinary telemedicine can also be an excellent means of public outreach, providing personalised advice on the home management of non-conventional species, carrying out nutritional consultations for dogs, cats and other species, or offering integrative medicine consultations in close collaboration with the treating vet.
Many veterinary surgeons who are specialists in behaviour are also beginning to incorporate this type of therapeutic approach into their clinical practice in cases where it is feasible. In general, however, it is an excellent preventive tool that makes it possible to anticipate future problems or to intervene early, identifying all those situations in which initial symptoms might be overlooked or not given adequate attention. It can also help owners realise that something is wrong, by highlighting conditions or disorders that could otherwise be underestimated and might be the precursor to more serious situations and more complex therapeutic interventions.
In the course of chronic illnesses, and when there is a need to closely monitor the small patient with advice, prescription adjustments, information and a range of minor and major concerns, veterinary telemedicine can be invaluable, becoming a practical and safe way to save time, journeys and the stress associated with travel and waiting that could jeopardise the full recovery and wellbeing of our four-legged friend. All of this also becomes important during convalescence and post-surgical monitoring.
Telemedicine can also be particularly well suited to those species that struggle with waiting and the proximity of other animals in the confined and crowded conditions of a waiting room. Think of small mammals such as the rabbit or various types of birds: all susceptible animals, for whom the consequences of excessive stress in conditions of less than optimal health can be very serious. The waiting rooms of veterinary facilities rarely take into account the differences between prey and predator species: a Peruvian guinea pig or a canary may find themselves next to predators such as dogs or cats, with no possibility of escape — exposing them to an anxious state and fears that may seem unwarranted to us, but are decidedly distressing for them.
The first therapeutic approach takes the form of a video call, which can never replace an in-person visit, of course, but always constitutes a fully valid medical act in its own right. The veterinary surgeon interacts remotely with the patient and with the animal's owners (much as happens in telepediatrics, albeit with the appropriate differences). The remote vet may also be assisted by another veterinary surgeon present alongside the patient, which may be necessary depending on the particular requirements of the case or the condition being assessed.
From a practical standpoint, the video call is conducted using one of the platforms we are all now well familiar with. The duration and conduct of the session obviously depend on the veterinary surgeon, who will decide on a case-by-case basis according to the nature and subject of the consultation. At the end of the session, a detailed written summary is sent.
Another interesting feature of veterinary telemedicine is the teleconsultation, which takes place between professionals in the absence of the patient and makes it possible to collaborate on more complex cases with experts in specific fields, even when they are geographically distant. Once again, then, technology proves important for our four-legged friends, enabling a valid and sustainable therapeutic approach in the interest of better resolving the small and large problems in their lives.