Since the pandemic, people have turned to virtual meetings, online grocery ordering, and even virtual doctors’ appointments. Many virtual platforms have allowed for people to safely speak to a health professional in the comfort of their own home. This trend has started to trickle into veterinary medicine as well. There are a number of “telehealth” companies popping up that allow you to meet with a veterinarian while never leaving your home. This sounds great in theory, but it has its downfalls in that you usually aren’t able to get prescriptions for your pets via telehealth. Only the following states allow online vet prescriptions: AZ, CA, DC, FL, ID, NJ, VA, and VT. In this article we’ll touch briefly on the rules some states have about telehealth appointments, and which states you may be able to get an online prescription from.
The Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR)
Most states require a VCPR (Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship) in order to prescribe medications and/or foods for your pet. VCPR is an abbreviation that means there needs to be some type of examination by a licensed veterinarian on a pet, and the client needs to approve and be aware of this. Hence, the veterinarian, pet owner (i.e. client), and pet have formed a consensual medical “relationship”. This is to protect both the patient and the doctor.
While being examined, your pet will also be weighed so that medications can be dosed accurately. The veterinarian will be able to determine if there is a heart murmur by listening to your pet, and also running bloodwork to determine organ function and/or disease status (e.g. heartworm tests). All of these will help to determine not only if certain medications can be prescribed, but at what dose.
These are all things that are done not to frustrate owners, but to keep your pet as safe as possible. Would you want your doctor prescribing medications that could be harmful to your heart if you’ve never actually had a doctor listen to your heart before? The same goes for your pet. We as veterinarians only want what’s best for your furry friends.
What Is Done Virtually
While many owners would love to never bring their pet to the hospital again, especially cats, the reality is that sometimes the pet is better off having a professional physically examine them. Only by feeling the abdomen, lymph nodes, certain joints, listening to the heart and lungs, examining the ears, etc., can a veterinarian really get an idea of what may be going on with your pet. A veterinarian can only gain so much information by speaking with an owner virtually, and/or seeing the pet through a computer screen.
In other instances — say, a cat who becomes extremely aggressive when in a hospital — touching base with a veterinarian online to determine if you need to bring your cat to a clinic can be extremely helpful. Many people will use telehealth services as a triage service, to help determine if they need to have their dog or cat seen immediately or can wait until their veterinarian has an opening.
Some states do not allow doctors to definitively diagnose anything virtually. They can speak with a client, see the pet through the screen, and even have owners show the vet specific things on their pet through the screen. However, because they cannot physically touch the pet, they are not allowed to make a “diagnosis”. They can only make recommendations based on the limited information.
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Current Laws by States
Below is a breakdown of what is currently allowed by state. This website provides a great virtual map that is periodically updated as laws change. However, we strongly recommend following news as there are new bills and laws being introduced, passed, and declined across the country.
| State practice act does not use or define a VCPR | NY |
| A VCPR can NOT occur through telemedicine – i.e. you must physically see a veterinarian with your pet | CT, GA, IL, MS, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI |
| In order for a VCPR, the client & pet must have been physically seen by a veterinarian, or the veterinarian has become “acquainted with” the pet | AR, DE, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MN, MO,NC, ND, NM, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, WV, WY |
| The pet needs to have been physically examined by a veterinarian for a VCPR | AL, AK, CO, CT, HI, NH, MD, MI, MT, NV, OR |
| VCPR is only valid for 1 year after pet has been physically examined | AK, GA, IA, ID, OR, SC, TN, WA, WV |
| Can use telemedicine to establish a VCPR & therefore obtain an online prescription | AZ, CA, DC, FL, ID, NJ, VA, VT |
| Can use telemedicine for an opioid or controlled substance | NJ, VA |
What Is Not Allowed
Anywhere you can obtain medications for your pet — whether an online pharmacy, a veterinary hospital, or even your corner drugstore — requires a valid veterinary license to prescribe controlled substances. Each state has different rules as to what exact drugs may or may not be controlled. Some states do not allow online or digital prescriptions for any controlled substance, and you will need to obtain a physically written prescription to bring to the pharmacy.
Most states also do not allow veterinary hospitals to “act like a pharmacy”. In other words, you cannot just walk into any clinic with a prescription for your pet and demand that they fill it. Your pet would need to be a patient there. This can be frustrating for people who may be traveling with their pet and run out of something — they think they can just go to the nearest vet clinic in town and pick up a refill. In reality, this is typically illegal in most states. This, again, is to protect the veterinarian against people abusing prescriptions, or people who may try to fill a medication for a pet that isn’t even theirs.
Conclusion
Veterinary telehealth and virtual medicine is gaining traction across the United States. While it can be of great help to people who aren’t sure if they should bring their pet to an emergency room or not, it’s also helpful for fearful pets who may react in the hospital. There are limitations to what is and isn’t allowed, and these vary by states. Because telemedicine is becoming so popular in human medicine, the laws and rules for veterinary medicine are also constantly changing and evolving. While you may want to receive all of your medications and advice online, make sure you check the latest rules and regulations for your specific state as to what may or may not be allowed.
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