Curbside care for cats — taking your cat from the car and examining her in the office while you wait outside — became more commonplace for veterinary practices during the pandemic. Some vets now feel the practice is working so well for them that they plan to continue it post-COVID, says the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
You may or may not like the idea, but if your cat’s doctor goes that route, the AVMA advises that she or he set up a computer, tablet, or smartphone in each of the practice’s exam rooms so “parents” can be included in the visit. “Using a telehealth platform or a simple video app, like Facetime, GoogleMeet, Zoom, or Skype,” the AVMA says, “can allow [a] client to watch their pet being examined and still feel like they’re engaged with the visit.”
Such a set-up also reduces the need for back-and-forth phone conversations. Once you are on video for the exam, you and the doctor can discuss your cat’s health status in real time. It helps avoid miscommunication as well as multiple calls.
