Could This Be the Future of Feline Chronic Illness Management? How Telehealth is Improving Cat Care

Over the past five years or so, the number and variety of services we can access from the comfort of our lounge chair have skyrocketed. Once the domain of pizza delivery, booking holidays, and chatting with friends, the internet now allows us to order groceries, work from home, and even have a consultation with a vet. Although some were initially sceptical about how effective a remote veterinary examination could be, a recent study has found that telehealth may actually prove to be a secret weapon in managing feline health.

With almost 50 million US households enjoying the company of at least one feline family member, ready access to reliable veterinary advice has never been more important. Although a physical examination is almost always going to be an essential part of the diagnostic process, many queries and health conditions can be addressed without the need for an in-person visit.

Victims of Unintentional Neglect

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) and arthritis are among the most common, yet underrated, conditions that negatively impact quality of life for older cats. The feline ability to “just get on with it” is well-known, something that often results in inaccurate home assessments and unintentional neglect, and the diagnosis of joint pain often comes as a surprise to even the most devoted cat parents. Although joint disease is a condition that should be managed with a long-term treatment plan that involves repeat visits to the vet, it has been observed that, in many cases, this simply doesn’t happen.

Cats are not always the most cooperative patients, nor do they tend to be relaxed travelers, making repeat examinations less appealing to owners and often somewhat limited in practice. In a new study based on incorporating video telehealth for improving at-home management of chronic health conditions in cats from The University of California, Davis (UC Davis), participants found that not only did their cats benefit from the availability of telehealth appointments, but they themselves became more confident in assessing and managing their cats’ health.

There’s No Place Like Home

While there is no substitute for performing a physical examination on a patient, many vets would agree that the ability to observe patients in their home environment, as well as assess that environment for potential problems or limitations, can be a vital tool in providing a complete management plan. This is particularly true when it comes to joint and mobility issues for cats, as it can be challenging to observe natural movements in a clinical setting.

The UC Davis study used a series of video consultations, surveys, and treatment plans relating to body condition scores and mobility, with a final questionnaire conducted on how participants felt about the process. Overwhelmingly, the cat caregivers felt that their ability to assess and manage their pet’s mobility issues was greatly enhanced as a result of the repeat video consultations, and their confidence in the process was consistently high.

With follow-up appointments being a well-recognized obstacle in the effective management of feline joint disease and mobility problems, it seems that telehealth may have found its niche. Being able to observe a patient in their home environment can have huge advantages when it comes to assessing a problem and response to treatment, and if it means that our cats are getting all the care and attention they deserve, then perhaps we should all think about staying home more often!

Did you know that Catster’s sister site, PangoVet, offers online veterinary consultations? Click here to learn more.

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