Pet parents know the importance of bringing their cats and dogs to the veterinarian for regular checkups and vaccinations. But when questions arise or pets are suddenly sick, it can be difficult for folks in remote areas to book a quick visit. That’s where TELUS Health MyPet is making a difference.
The BC service is helping pet owners access quick care from more than 20 licensed, practicing vets across the province, one virtual visit at a time. Furthermore, the service has teamed with BC SPCA for a special collaboration, offering the organization reduced rates for virtual consultations for dogs and cats in its shelters.
In partnership with TELUS Health MyPet, we look at the difference the service makes in pet owners’ lives, as well as how the collaboration with the BC SPCA embraces the mantra, “give where we live.”
Developed By Vets
Nearly three in 10 Canadians adopted a pet during the pandemic, driving increased need for veterinary services across the country. TELUS Health MyPet was designed and developed with the support of veterinarians, in an effort to alleviate some of the challenges that come with accessing vet care at a physical office. Those challenges can include proximity, wait times or stressed-out pets.
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“Telemedicine options help fill a significant gap,” says Dr. Koharik Arman, TELUS Health’s lead veterinarian. “It also helps the physical clinics in terms of relieving some of the burdens placed upon them right now. And it provides timely medical care for people who need it for their pets.”
According to a 2021 survey of pet owners, roughly 75 per cent of virtual veterinary consultations can be treated solely through telemedicine without a clinical visit. Dr. Arman reveals it’s still essential to book in-person visits for vaccinations, tests or emergency care for things like respiratory distress or large wounds. However, virtual care is ideal for issues such as behavioural concerns, nutrition, and non-urgent medical issues like minor eye and ear infections, allergies, and mild gastrointestinal issues. Vets can also prescribe certain medications through the MyPet service.
“The pandemic forced our hand into practicing curbside medicine and telemedicine that really has, as a whole, convinced our profession that this is actually a huge part of the solution to the veterinarian shortage and care-access issues,” she adds.
For a Good Cause
The TELUS Health MyPet app is free to download. As part of the collaboration with the BC SPCA, for every person who downloads the app until November 26, 2022, MyPet will give $2 to the organization — up to a maximum of $20,000. According to Nathan Ramsden, the BC SPCA’s senior officer, corporate philanthropy and partnerships, these kinds of collaborations are extremely impactful.
“We don’t receive government funding,” he explains. “Everything we do is funded by donations and supporters. This money will go toward our highest priority needs, whether that’s medicine for animals in our shelters or specific care. It will go where it’s needed most within the organization.”
Together, MyPet and the BC SPCA have also identified seven pilot locations across the province where people adopting new pets receive reduced rates for their first virtual consultation. That’s in addition to the discounted rates across the province received by the BC SPCA itself for all dogs and cats currently at its care.
READ MORE: Online vet care alleviates stress caused by COVID surge in pet ownership
“Shelters have the same problem that pet owners have, which is that it’s really difficult to access timely care,” says Dr. Arman. “There are many ways we’re able to help out when it comes to things like behaviour medication, behavioural consultations, simple infections and issues that arise for pets in shelters.”
Ramsden adds that access to virtual services saves shelter staff a lot of time, but it also helps them reallocate funds to other needed areas across their 42 province-wide locations, including 36 branches that care for abused and homeless animals.
“The shelters have to pay for veterinary appointments and there is a budget we use to pay for that. To get a discounted service is absolutely amazing,” he says. Ramsden recalls one recent cat, whose owner had to give her up. When she first came into BC SPCA care, she was aggressive and scared of the staff.
“It was in an area where getting veterinary care was difficult for the shelter, so they used the MyPet app and the vet was able to prescribe some calming medicine and anxiety medicine for her,” he recalls. “Now she’s a loveable little furball and everything’s great. She’s pending for adoption right now.”
For more information or to download the TELUS Health MyPet app for free (with a $2 donation going to the BC SPCA), visit the website.
