Arizona Humane Society provides telemedicine veterinary services

The Arizona Humane Society (AHS) is the first animal welfare organization to provide Telemedicine Veterinary Services.

The action comes after two years of advocacy by the AHS which resulted in the passing of Senate Bill 1053. This bill makes Arizona one of the few states to allow veterinarians licensed in any state to establish a veterinary-client relationship through telemedicine.

Currently, the AHS is the only organization in the nation to provide this service.

AHS Vice President of Animal Welfare and Medical Services, Dr. Melissa Thompson, joined “Arizona Horizon” to expand on what this milestone could mean for future veterinary services.

The Veterinary Patient Client Relationship statute explains veterinaries are required to physically see the animals when providing services. With SB 1053, the law now states veterinarians can do certain things remotely and that they don’t necessarily need to have their hands on the animal to provide services.

With telehealth, pet owners are now able to schedule 20-minute video calls with AHS for their companion animals.

Dr. Thompson said these appointments are great if your pet is experiencing issues like colds, allergies and skin issues. The online aspect allows for pet owners to get veterinary attention from the comfort of their own home.

She assured pet owners these online appointments are not designed to take the place of emergencies or situations requiring more serious attention. Their veterinarians will advise owners to take their pets to a regular veterinarian office or emergency hospital if needed.

Dr. Thompson said the telehealth visits can help address bigger issues for owners, apart from just providing a convenient way to visit the vet.

“Some of the biggest reasons why people have to surrender their pet is either cost of the pet or access to veterinary care,” Dr. Thompson said.

Visit the Arizona Humane Society website to learn more or to make an online appointment.