VIRTUAL VET SERVICES (TELEMEDICINE)

**THE VIRTUAL VET/TELEMEDICINE REQUEST FORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE**

What Is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is the provision of veterinary care in the absence of a hands-on physical exam.  We use pictures, videos and detailed patient histories to formulate a tentative diagnosis and make treatment recommendations for your pet.  Veterinarians get a lot of information by performing a thorough physical exam of your pet and telemedicine cannot replace a complete physical examination.  However, there are some conditions and diseases that our pets suffer that are quite amenable to telemedicine consultations.  If you're not sure just fill in the Telemedicine Request and one of our staff will help you decide if your pet is a good candidate for a telemedicine consultation.  And let's be honest, there are some patients who are much more safely and effectively evaluated over video from the comfort of their homes!   Learning how to report your pet's vital signs will help us tremendously:  

http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/check-your-dogs-vital-signs-at-home​

​How much does a Telemedicine Consultation Cost?

Telemedicine consultations cost the same as in-clinic visits and are scheduled the same way.

Who can request a Telemedicine Consultation?

Anybody can request a Telemedicine consultation - our veterinary team will review your request and work with you to decide if your pet is a good candidate.

You must be a resident of Alberta as Dr. Karen & Dr. Dani are only licensed to practise in Alberta.

If your pet has not been examined by a veterinarian within the last year a Telemedicine Consultation may not be possible.

Here are some of the reasons you may want to consider a telemedicine consultation for your pet:

• followup evaluations and recheck appointments
• you think your pet may need a refill of medications for a recurring problem
• your pet has a skin problem
• your pet isn't feeling well and/or has a superficial injury and you're not sure if they require further diagnostic workup and/or medications
• you are in quarantine for COVID-19 or voluntary self isolation

Who is not a good candidate for a Telemedicine Consultation?

If your pet is in pain, not eating or drinking for 24 hours, has more than a superficial injury, has an eye condition, seems weak, is having difficulty breathing or is in distress in any way they definitely need to be seen by a veterinarian for a complete physical examination.   Some of these pets may need emergency care - please call us or an emergency clinic if you are not sure. 

If a Telemedicine Consultation is not an option what do I do for my pet?

We are currently offering ZERO CONTACT veterinary visits for your pet if a telemedicine consultation is not the right fit.  Our staff get your pet's history over the phone, retrieve your pet from the vehicle, the veterinary team examines your pet in the clinic and then the veterinarian will speak with you over the phone or 2m from your vehicle about their recommendations for your pet.  We take payment via etransfer for existing clients or via the debit machine which is sanitized after each client.   Clients are not entering our clinic at this time.