Telemedicine
With the country in lockdown what can your vet do to assess your horse remotely? Vet Sarah Hunter explains how diagnosis via a mobile device actually works
Veterinary consultations 2020-style
SINCE CORONAVIRUS CHANGED the way the world works, we’ve all had to get used to video calls via conferencing technology like Teams and Zoom, but who knew that vets were jumping on the same kind of technological bandwagon! Telemedicine is the name given to remote veterinary care. It means that in times of social distancing the vet doesn’t even need to be in the same place as the animal — in theory they could be tens or even hundreds of miles away. Telemedicine can take place over the phone, via email, using instant messaging, or through video calling. In fact, many owners have already experienced this type of communication with their vet or doctor. During lockdown, however, this technology has really come into its own. Under normal circumstances, every animal must undergo an examination by a vet before prescription medication — including antibiotics and pain relief like bute — can be dispensed.