SAN DIEGO — Pet owners in California will soon be able to schedule a virtual visit to the veterinarian.
Taking care of their cat, Ash, is top priority for Ramon and his fiancé Christian. The couple got up early to be one of the first people in line for the Community Vet Program at the San Diego Humane Society. Ash hurt his back leg, and they wanted to be there for him like he’s been there for them.
“He keeps me calm,” Ramon said. “He knows when I’m sick or if I’m not feeling real well. He’s there, he’ll lay next to you.”
The couple cleared their schedule for the day and arranged for a ride to the clinic so Ash could get help.
Dr. Zarah Hedge is the chief medical officer at San Diego Humane Society and said soon pet parents in California will have the option to schedule a virtual visit with veterinarians, which she hopes will expand access to care across the state.
Assembly Bill 1399 was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October. The new law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and allows licensed veterinarians to practice veterinary medicine via telehealth, replacing the current law which prevents veterinarians from practicing virtually or even giving advice virtually.
While federal and state laws have expanded access to telehealth for people, access to telehealth care for pets remains limited. Its growth is obstructed by antiquated laws that require veterinarians to examine animals in person before they can treat animals, even for minor and common ailments, or for routine prescriptions.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, said telehealth is a lifeline for pet owners, especially those in remote or underserved areas with few or no veterinarians and those who face financial, or logistical obstacles getting pets to a clinic.
Hedge said the entire nation is experiencing a critical shortage of veterinarians.
“If somebody can’t get an appointment for several weeks or they don’t have to ability to get to a vet clinic, they can talk to a vet and we can help triage what’s going on with their pet,” she said. “And it could be something that we can treat through telemedicine. Something minor that we could prescribe medications for and then schedule a recheck for them.”
A study from Banfield Pet Hospital estimates that 75 million pets in the U.S. could be without veterinary care by 2030.
“The benefits of telehealth are clear — when used responsibly, veterinary telehealth can help reduce animal suffering, address barriers to care, keep pets in their homes, and extend the capacity of animal shelters to serve animals and their communities by increasing access to veterinary care,” said Brittany Benesi, senior director of state legislation for the ASPCA’s Western division. “AB 1399 makes veterinary care more accessible to California pet owners and we’re grateful to Gov. Newsom for signing this lifesaving bill into law to enable California veterinarians to use technology to protect the pets who need it most.”
Hedge hopes modernizing veterinary care in California will make it easier for people to care for their pets. She said many of the animals they care for have been relinquished by their owners because they’re not able to pay for veterinary care or make regular visits. Hedge hopes the telehealth option will keep pets with their families and out of the shelter.
“Having the telemedicine option can make it more affordable and hopefully it can allow people to talk to a vet sooner, earlier when their pet is having some sort of a medical issue rather than waiting weeks,” Hedge said. “A lot of the things we see in our community vet program are skin disease, fleas, those kinds of things as well as chronic problems and so I think it can help on both ends to help people talk to a vet, feel more comfortable about what’s going on with their pet and determine what kind of care they need.”
As for Ash, the cat received an X-ray, which showed no broken bones. He was sent home with some pain medication to help him heal. Ramon said Ash was a little stressed out being carried around in his kennel, but he is glad they spent the day taking care of him. He looks forward to next year when he can try getting help virtually first.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “They should have that instead of putting a cat in a cage just to bring him down here to get looked at.”
Assembly Bill 1399 goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.