Veterinary telemedicine has been a popular topic in recent years, especially in light of the pandemic. Since then, this new way of meeting with clients has evolved at a dizzying pace and, thanks to the use of wireless devices like multiparametric harnesses, it is now possible to care for patients virtually.
In this article we’ll review how devices in veterinary telemedicine have improved the relationship between clients and vets and how these types of instruments can improve your clinic’s performance.
Growth in Veterinary Telemedicine
The fields of eHealth and mHealth (the use of technology and mobile devices in healthcare) have been on the rise for years in veterinary medicine.
Thanks to advances in communication technologies and improvements in the quality of video calls, online consultations have become more and more frequent. In 2020, most professionals were forced to quickly implement these work methodologies.
One of the questions professionals may ask themselves is to what extent is it legal to implement this practice? Some countries have already regulated telemedicine, such as the United States and France, while others, like Spain, have not yet settled this matter.
Telemedicine is an ideal option for minor cases in which, for example, the patient needs a post-operative or treatment follow-up. Another ideal case would be when the client needs to make a sporadic consultation on the animal’s behaviour or even wants to practice preventive veterinary medicine.
Veterinarians, clients, and patients alike can benefit from telemedicine. For example, both the veterinarian and the client can save time, since it is much easier to solve concerns concerning the health of pets via a video call.
This way, it is also easier to combat misinformation that the client may obtain through scrolling online. Being able to consult directly with a professional helps people have a much clearer idea of their pet’s condition.
The Main Advantages of Using Devices in Veterinary Telemedicine
As the vice president of the American Veterinary Medical Association explained, using wearables for veterinary telemedicine allows vets to do more.
A commonly cited disadvantage of telemedicine is the fact that it is not possible to perform a direct examination of the animal. However, thanks to the use of instruments such as wearables, in some cases it is possible to solve this issue.
Wearables make it possible to capture and store relevant data on an animal’s health even when the animal is not at the clinic. For example, it is possible to measure some parameters, such as heart rate or blood pressure. In addition, the veterinarian will also be able to have more specific data to make an accurate diagnosis.
This type of device also makes it possible to have data that would otherwise not be possible to collect. For instance, it is possible to collect data from the animal at rest or to detect if there is any change in behaviour like sleep. Thanks to this data, the veterinarian will have more information to help them find the problem with the patient.
And finally, the great advantage of the devices is the fact that it is possible to avoid trips to the clinic that could affect the animal’s well-being. Thanks to the use of specific devices, it is possible to avoid anxiety or stress for the pet during the trip to the veterinary clinic, without sacrificing the optimal monitoring of its health.
The Multiparametric Harness and Telemedicine
Telemedicine is not a total substitute for clinic visits, but an ideal complement to improve the monitoring of pet health. Above all, professionals will have to bear in mind that there are still limits.
Veterinary telemedicine is still in the process of growth, and it can be an excellent opportunity for a clinic to get ahead of its competitors and offer an innovative service.
Do you want to know more about new trends in technology in the veterinary field? We invite you to download our ebook “11 veterinary trends you should adopt in 2022”.
