petbrief How Holistic Pet Parents Can Use Telemedicine Veterinary by Michel Selmer, DVM, CVA, CVH, CVFT T
elemedicine for human patients is here to stay and is predicted to show a 700 percent increase between 2013 and 2018, according to a recent Ernst & Young report. Veteri- nary medicine, however, is a bit slower to embrace telemedicine, and for good reason: Veterinary patients can’t talk, making a hands-on physical exam that much more important. This doesn’t mean there’s not a place for phone or email consults with a holistic veterinarian, either in your area or with a veterinarian across the country. Dr. Michel Selmer had this to say about telemedicine for animals: “Although I run an integrative vet- erinary clinic in Huntington Station, I began offering phone consultations to pet parents from all over the country who didn’t have access to a holistic veterinarian in their local area. Dur- ing these phone or email ‘appoint- ments,’ I shift from hands-on veteri- narian to pet health consultant.” In most cases, pet parents requesting telephone appoint- ments want direction on how to best navigate a tricky, persistent or particularly concerning health issue—a second opinion. Some have a local veterinarian that they love and trust, but they— being committed to modalities like acupuncture and herbal therapy for their own health—want to know what alternative or holistic treat- ment options are available for their pet.
Telemedicine works!
I live in an area of Florida where we have no holistic
Veterinarians, so a friend on Long Island recommended Dr. Selmer. In just one 10-minute phone call, he
was able to give me holistic treatment options for my German Shepherd’s granulomas; and it’s working beautifully!
~Suzzanne in Florida It’s important to note that while
technology—being able to read your pet’s X-rays online and having access to your local veterinarian’s records on your pet via email—is certainly con- venient, it will never replace hands-on physical exams from your local vet- erinarian. These exams are critical to getting a more accurate assessment of your pet’s overall health, and—despite the growing convenience and reach of the internet—there is no digital way to replace them. But for any of the follow- ing situations, a phone or email consul- tation may be an ideal way to go:
n You need guidance making an im- portant health decision for your pet;
n Your pet is not responding to con- ventional veterinary care and you want to discuss alternative treatment options for a particular diagnosis or symptom;
n You need a diet workup to formulate a food-based treatment plan for your pet;
n You need a personalized, focused discussion of your pet’s medical prognosis without having to stress your pet with car transport; or
n You want a second opinion on your pet’s diagnosis or treatment plan.
In these cases, a growing number of veterinarians offering tele- medicine options are available and eager to help.
Dr. Michel Selmer is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and is cur- rently pursuing a master’s degree to become a master practitioner of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. His practice, Advanced Animal Care Center, is located at 260 Evergreen Ave., South Hun- tington. For more information, to schedule a phone consultation or to make an appointment, call 631-FOR-PETS (367-7387) or visit
AdvancedCareForPets.com. See ad on page 2.
natural awakenings August 2016 45
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