If your dog has an emergency or any issues after your vet closes, you aren’t left with many options. You can try and find an emergency vet that’s open 24 hours to take your pet to, but you may end up paying hundreds of dollars more than you usually would. Or you can search for an online vet who can help you. Just like human medicine, veterinarians can answer all your questions online, triage and evaluate the issue's urgency, and give health and wellness advice.

This article will cover how an online vet can help you.

How do online vet services work?

Some online veterinary services may be free or included as part of a membership or subscription plan. Depending on the service and your preferences, you can talk to licensed veterinarians through chat, phone calls, email, or video calls. Most online veterinarians are available to help assess situations and answer health questions.

Benefits of working with an online veterinarian

There are many advantages to working with an online veterinarian, including the following:

• Convenient hours and easier access to a veterinarian from your home
• Online vets can determine how urgent your pet’s issue is, give general advice, and answer health or product questions
• Faster response time
• Free or low-cost feedback from a licensed veterinarian
• Less stressful for your pet than an in-person visit

What to know about working with an online vet

While an online vet can provide essential services, there are several things they can’t do. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Online vets cannot legally diagnose or prescribe medications because a veterinary-client-patient relationship has not been established.
• Technical issues like dropped calls could impact your ability to communicate.
• It can be challenging to describe or portray what is happening to your pet without an in-person physical exam.

Why can’t online vets write prescriptions?

Online veterinarians legally cannot write prescriptions for your pet. This is because a veterinary-client-patient relationship has not been established. It’s essentially a relationship formed between a vet, a pet parent, and their pet. Most states require a veterinarian to examine a pet in person to establish this relationship.

This helps ensure that a veterinarian is familiar with your pet’s medical history to diagnose and treat any medical concerns.

What can you use an online vet service for?

As mentioned above, there are many benefits to using and speaking with an online vet. Online vets can provide you with the following:

• General pet health info
• Finding out when something is an emergency
• Getting a second opinion
• Asking about any follow-up concerns
• Receiving information on preventative care

Join My TeleBenefit to save money on your pet’s medical needs with virtual vet visits.

A telehealth provider can significantly improve your health and savings account even if you have great insurance for yourself and your pet. My TeleBenefit provides users with access to doctors and veterinarians via phone, video, or through the TeleBenefit app. A single monthly subscription provides unlimited, $0 consultations with medical professionals.

Our doctors can prescribe medication for over 50 common conditions, savings you a time-consuming and stressful trip to your PCP. While our veterinarians aren’t a diagnostic service, you can speak with someone 24/7 to get advice on the next steps for your animal. We’re here with expertise and guidance when you’re unsure if your pet is experiencing a medical emergency or can wait for an appointment with your regular vet.

When your pet gets sick, don’t rush to the emergency vet without having a virtual vet visit.