Virtual and Hands-on Veterinary Care: Why They Should Coexist
Veterinary care isn’t one-size-fits all, and in today’s world, it can’t afford to be. While in-person visits are critical to animal health, they are not always accessible, affordable or preferred. Virtual care offers a complementary solution, filling the gaps when traditional care falls short. Together, they can create a seamless, responsive system that better serves both pets and the people who love them.
Avoided and delayed care
Cost is a major barrier to veterinary care. A 2025 Gallup–PetSmart Charities study revealed that 52% of U.S. pet owners skipped or declined veterinary care in the past year, with 71% citing cost as the primary reason.
Access is another problem. In many parts of the country, especially rural areas, veterinary care is hard to come by. Even in more densely populated regions, many clinics are overburdened. The U.S. faces a projected veterinarian shortage of up to 15,000 by 2030, according to Mars Veterinary Health. Shortages of support personnel pushes the number even higher, to an estimated 60,000 total staff needed (Veterinary Care Accessibility Project). These shortages are resulting in long wait times, reduced availability and more pet owners left with no options when they need care most.
Virtual care isn’t a replacement. It’s a relief valve.
In-person veterinary care is about more than just making a diagnosis. It draws on all the senses—sight, touch, smell, even the intuition that’s developed through years of experience. It helps build strong relationships, supports ongoing care and often uncovers issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
However, not every concern needs hands-on care. Without virtual care as a starting point, we’re adding pressure to an already stretched system. Virtual care offers triage, advice and direction when clinics are closed, booked up, or when pet owners face hurdles like work, transportation or uncertainty about whether something is serious. Most pet owners actually prefer to start virtually. In fact, a 2024 study found that 91.9% of pet owners with a regular vet would use tools like chat or phone calls if they were available.1 And when virtual care is offered at nominal or no cost, they’re more likely to check in about small changes that could signal something bigger.
That means better chances for early detection. Frequent use of veterinary triage has been shown to increase health literacy, which increases the odds for early detection and better overall care for our pets. An integrated approach that brings together virtual and in person care makes it easier for pet owners to stay engaged and get the right care at the right time, supporting better outcomes for both pets and providers.
What a seamless system looks like In an ideal world, every pet owner would have insurance, disposable income, nearby clinics with open appointments, and the time and knowledge to navigate every health concern. But that world doesn’t exist for most. By expanding our models to include virtual access, we can bring access, choice and affordability to a market starving for all three.
Imagine a care model where a pet owner can start with a telehealth triage quickly, affordably and without logistical hurdles. Based on the assessment, they might receive advice, monitoring instructions or a referral for in person care. Records are shared across platforms so all providers, virtual or in-clinic, are informed. This is integrated care.
The bottom line
Virtual and in-person care should not be in competition. They serve different but complementary purposes. When used together, they increase access, reduce unnecessary visits and ultimately improve outcomes. For many pet owners, virtual care isn’t a convenience, it’s the only door open. It’s time to stop debating whether it belongs in veterinary care models and start designing the pathways that work better for all of us.
1. “Impact of Telemedicine on the Traditional VeterinarianClientPatient Relationship.”, 2019 www.researchgate.net/publication/335772709_ Impact_of_Telemedicine_on_the_Traditional_Veterinarian-Client-Patient_Relationship