What To Expect From an Online Veterinarian Appointment

With an increasing number of veterinarian clinics and online companies offering online consultations and telehealth appointments, it’s likely just a matter of time before you—and your pet—take part in an online veterinarian appointment.

But what can you expect from an online vet appointment? And what can you use an online veterinarian for?

Here’s everything you need to know.

What To Expect From an Online Veterinarian Appointment

Online appointments may be offered by your own vet (if they do online consults) or through an online company such as Chewy’s Connect with a Vet (CWAV).

Online appointments may be either a teletriage/telehealth appointment or a telemedicine appointment.

• Teletriage/telehealth: During a teletriage appointment, a vet will provide medical advice, such as recommending when your pet needs to see an in-person vet or what over-the-counter products might help your pet’s situation.

  • However, a veterinarian will not be able to diagnose your pet’s condition or prescribe any medication. CWAV is a teletriage or telehealth appointment.

• Telemedicine: During a telemedicine appointment, a veterinarian will be able to diagnose a medical condition and create a treatment plan, as well as provide any necessary medications for treatment.

  • To provide a telemedicine service, a few rules must be met.

Before you see your veterinarian at your appointment, gather the following items:

• Your pet’s records, including medical and vaccine history

• Photos of rashes, their poop (if you find something unusual in it), and any other notable symptoms

• A list of question or concerns you may have

Can Online Veterinarians Write Prescriptions?

Yes, online veterinarians can write prescriptions. However, in most states, there must have been a previous connection between the vet and the pet.

A veterinary client patient relationship (VCPR) is when a veterinarian has examined a pet within the past year in person. If this is the case, a vet can prescribe medication and diagnose medical conditions for them via an online vet visit.

The Veterinary Virtual Care Association (VVCA) has an interactive map you can look at to determine what telemedicine laws are in effect in your state.

If your state does not require a VCPR to prescribe, you need to find a telemedicine service that’s comfortable prescribing medications to your pet.

If you can’t get a prescription from a veterinarian online, you must visit a vet in person.

What Can You Use an Online Veterinarian For?

Even if you have established a VCPR, it might not be possible to do a vet visit online, depending on your dog’s needs.

If your pet needs laboratory testing such as blood, fecal, or urine testing; vaccinations; or diagnostics testing done (ex: X-rays or ultrasound), an online vet visit is not for you. These procedures can’t be done in a virtual environment.

Here are some situations in which an online vet visit would be a good option for you and your pet:

• If your pet has recently been diagnosed with a medical condition and you have questions about the condition, the prognosis, or treatment plan

• If you are experiencing a minor medical issue with your pet and you don’t know if they should see an in-person vet or not. These medical issues may include:

  • Minor skin conditions and itchy skin

  • Wound care

  • Acute diarrhea or vomiting

  • Not eating or drinking well

  • Changes in behavior

  • Cold-like symptoms

• If you’re wondering what vaccines your pet needs and when they would be due (be sure to have your pet’s current vaccine record on hand)

• Recommendations for the best flea, tick, or heartworm prevention

• Nutrition and supplement advice

• Behavior and training advice

• Post-surgical incision checks—for example, after a routine spay or neuter to check to see if the incision is healing or are there signs of infection or dehiscence (opening of surgical incision)

When To Take Your Pet to a Veterinarian

There are some situations when it’s best to take your pet to your veterinarian’s office or to a veterinary emergency room if your vet is not available.

 Examples of when to skip an online vet would be:

• Trouble breathing

• Abdominal bloating

• Bleeding that does not stop with simple wound care

• Traumatic injury such as hit by car, fight wound, head trauma

• Blood in bodily fluids such as urine, vomit, or stool

• Not eating for 24 hours

• Weakness or extreme lethargy

• Inability to move or get up and walk around

• Seizures or other neurologic symptoms like paralysis

• Multiple medical issues (past or present)

• A health or traveling certificate is needed

• Need vaccines, lab testing, or diagnostic testing

• Most prescription refills

Pros and Cons of Online Vet Care

An online vet visit can’t accomplish one of the most important tasks of a veterinarian’s job: performing a physical exam on a pet.

If your pet needs an exam, they must see an in-person vet, not an online veterinarian. Even if you see an online vet, it doesn’t take the place of routine annual checkups for an exam and lab testing.

Let’s look at a few pros and cons of online vet care.

Pros of online vet care include:

• Quick and easy for minor issues

• Avoid potential stress for pet

• Medical advice

• Nutritional and supplement recommendations

• Convenience—hours and easy access

• Cost-effectiveness

• Second opinions

• Help determine urgency

• Faster response time

• Follow-up concerns

• Advice on preventative care and general pet info

Cons of online vet care include:

• No physical exam done

• No lab work or diagnostic testing done

• No prescriptions (some exceptions)

• No medical diagnosis made (some exceptions)

• No vaccines

• No health certificates can be provided

• Not suitable for emergencies

• Can hinder in-person bond with pet and their vet

• Potential for extra cost if you must pay for telemedicine visit and still need to see in-person vet

• Technical issues such as low internet speed or dropped calls

• May be difficult to determine accurately what is going on without in-person exam

How Much Do Online Vets Cost?

Online veterinary services vary in price.

Some online veterinary services are free (CWAV, for example, is a free teletriage service for all pet parents), while other online veterinarian visits can cost anywhere from $50–$150 for a base consultation, with additional costs depending on recommendations (such as medications or over-the-counter products).

Another option would be to subscribe to an online veterinarian plan, which would include:

• Video or texting appointments

• Access to an online pharmacy

• Ability to store your pet’s medical records for future visits

Online veterinarian plans can cost anywhere from $10 to $50 per month (for 12 months) depending on what services you would like and the company you choose. Some of these plans might cover unlimited follow-up care as well.

For these online vet visits, you need to pay online before your consult begins.

Some pet insurance plans cover online vet visits. Make sure to check what’s covered before you purchase your pet’s insurance plan. As with most insurance companies, you pay the online vet upfront and are reimbursed by them later.

What Is the Best Online Vet Service?

An excellent service for you and your pet is Chewy’s telehealth service, Connect with a Vet.

This service is free to have a chat or text conversation with a vet or $19.99 for a video consultation.

Because CWAV is a telehealth provider (not telemedicine), it is unable to diagnose or prescribe any medications, prescription diet, or prescription preventions.

However, CWAV is a source of medical advice for you and your pet. It can help you determine if your pet needs an in-person vet visit.

To speak with a vet via CWAV, you must:

• Create an online account with Chewy, which is also free

• Sign into your new account

• Access CWAV from your profile menu

• Choose either a text or video appointment

• Answer some basic questions about your current concerns

After you complete these steps, you’ll be connected to a qualified veterinarian to help you make decisions for your pet.

CWAV is available to chat anytime between 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. eastern standard time (EST) with no appointment needed. 

However, CWAV’s video service does require you to make an appointment for a 20-minute consultation.