One Reason You Should Absolutely Not Schedule a Virtual Vet Appointment

I live with two dogs and two cats. When Winnie yacks over the carpet, Gus attacks the couch cushions, or Benny's breath turns terrible enough to wilt plant life, it's just a regular Tuesday.

Sometimes, we'll call up the vet, and see if we can get the animals checked for cheap. But it's a hassle, it's often costly, and typically, the animals are fine. 

Recent changes to the California legal code allow pet owners to schedule virtual vet appointments in 2024, even with vets they've never met face-to-face. It's a convenient way to get animals diagnosed and treated -- especially when symptoms are mild.

But you should absolutely not schedule a virtual vet appointment if your pet has symptoms of a disease or injury requiring emergency treatment.

When to visit a vet in person

Life-threatening diseases and injuries require emergency treatment. According to a blog post by pet insurer Lemonade, you should bring your pet in for treatment ASAP if your pet has any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing
• Vomiting three separate times within the hour
• Seizures
• Difficulty urinating

Lemonade also recommends visiting the vet if your pet eats something toxic, like prescription medication or food poisonous to animals. You may need to visit the ER to keep your pet healthy.

A virtual vet visit would just delay your pet getting care. If your pet indeed requires emergency treatment, the virtual vet will simply refer you to an in-person vet anyway. You'll pay time and money better spent on treatment.

The average vet visit costs anywhere from $50 to $1,000, depending on your pet. 

Some pet insurance companies will help offset typical checkups, if you've got wellness coverage. Unfortunately, insurance may not cover virtual vet visits. If you pay for both a virtual and in-person visit, you could pay extra.

When to schedule a virtual vet appointment

Virtual vet visits can be helpful when you want to get your pet looked at quickly for symptoms of mild conditions. Dutch, a virtual telehealth company for pets, sometimes prescribes treatments over the air and ships the meds directly.

Some issues that the Dutch prescribes for, when necessary:

• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Fleas
• Itching

According to Dr. Abel Gonzalez, Clinical Director at Dutch, telemedicine is a complement to in-person vet visits. Not all diseases require in-person care; many can be diagnosed remotely.

Symptoms of severe issues are better diagnosed in person by vets who can take immediate, hands-on action. Surgery or examinations that require specialized machinery can only be done at the clinic. If your pet is struggling to breathe, a quick trip to the ER could save their life. 

Unsure whether there's an emergency? You can call your usual vet clinic for the next steps.