Remote consultations with vets give pet owners more comfort, allowing them to get quick advice without having to visit a clinic. But does teleconsultation have the potential to become the standard in veterinary medicine? In this article, we look at its advantages, its limitations and the future that teleconsultation in veterinary medicine could bring.

Advantages of teleconsultation in veterinary medicine

Teleconsultation in veterinary medicine is becoming increasingly popular due to its convenience and easy access to specialists. With services such as an online vet, pet owners can get quick help without having to visit a clinic. This solution is particularly appreciated by people who have limited access to veterinary facilities or live in smaller towns. Remote consultations make it possible to get quick advice for minor ailments or questions about your pet's care, without the stress of transporting your pet. The availability of an online vet means that pet owners can contact a specialist at a convenient time, regardless of location. This is especially important in emergencies, when quick intervention is crucial and a visit to the clinic is not immediately possible. The online vet can assess your pet's condition based on the information, photos or videos provided, allowing you to make an initial diagnosis and take the appropriate steps.
Tele-consultation in veterinary medicine is also a benefit for the vets themselves. Thanks to tools such as VetFile, doctors can manage their patients more efficiently by organising remote appointments and delivering advice online. This allows for better time management and extends the reach of services to clients who cannot reach the clinic in person.

Limitations of teleconsultation. When is a clinic visit necessary?

Although teleconsultation with a vet online offers many advantages, there are situations in which remote advice may not be sufficient.

• The first limitation of teleconsultation is the inability to carry out physical diagnostic tests. In situations where more advanced tests such as blood tests, x-rays or ultrasounds are required, an online vet will not be able to provide a full diagnosis.
• Another limitation of teleconsultation is the inability to perform more complex procedures. Although the online vet can advise on the care of the animal after surgery or wound treatment, the surgery itself or intensive treatment must be performed in a clinical setting.
• It is also worth mentioning animals that have behavioural or emotional problems that require close observation by a vet in the clinic. Although teleconsultation can be helpful in the initial diagnosis of a problem, some cases may require a more detailed analysis of the animal's behaviour on site, which is difficult to do online.

However, it is important to emphasise that the online vet can play a key role in assessing whether a visit to the clinic is necessary. With an initial online consultation, pet owners can quickly find out if a problem is serious enough to require an office visit. This saves time and minimises stress for pets who do not always tolerate clinic visits well.

Will teleconsultation become the future of veterinary medicine?

One of the main reasons why veterinary teleconsultation may dominate the future of veterinary medicine is the growing demand for accessibility to veterinary services. With tools such as VetFile, an online vet becomes available to clients wherever they live. This is particularly important in small towns or rural areas, where veterinary clinics are rare and access to them can be difficult. Tele-consultation makes it possible to get professional advice from anywhere, making veterinary care more widespread and accessible. The online vet is already playing a key role in remote pet care, and as telemedicine continues to develop, we can expect this form of consultation to become more popular and widespread.