A sick pet should not have to wait because a family lives too far from a clinic, cannot find an appointment, or cannot safely transport an anxious animal.

Yet across the United States, many pet owners face those barriers. The ASPCA reported in 2023 that one quarter of pet owners surveyed said they had wanted or needed veterinary care in the prior two years but could not get it. Among those with unmet needs, 69% expressed interest in veterinary telemedicine if it were available, and 66% said they would see a veterinarian more often if they had that option.

This is not a minor convenience issue. When pets go without care, pain can worsen. Treatable conditions can turn urgent. Families can face surrender decisions they never wanted to make.

Outdated state laws still limit how licensed veterinarians can use remote care.

Telemedicine Can Help Close The Vet Care Gap

Veterinary telemedicine is not a substitute for every hands-on exam. It cannot perform surgery, take X-rays, draw blood, or replace emergency care.

But it can help licensed veterinarians assess concerns, review symptoms, guide owners, support follow-up care, prescribe when lawful and medically appropriate, and determine when a pet must be seen in person.

The ASPCA has warned that the U.S. faces a serious veterinary access problem, with some projections estimating that 75 million pets could lack health care by 2030 if the system does not improve. The same issue hits hardest for rural families, low-income pet owners, seniors, people with mobility challenges, and animals that are difficult or stressful to transport.

Shelters also feel the strain. When veterinary access breaks down, more animals can enter systems already under pressure.

Veterinary telemedicine can help families reach care before a pet’s condition becomes a crisis.

Old Rules Still Block Modern Care

Many veterinary laws center on the veterinarian-client-patient relationship, or VCPR. A valid VCPR is the legal basis that allows a veterinarian to diagnose, treat, or prescribe.

The problem is that some state rules still require an in-person physical exam before a VCPR can begin, even when a licensed veterinarian could safely gather enough information through a video or phone consult. The ASPCA’s position statement argues that licensed veterinarians should be empowered to decide when telemedicine is appropriate and that outdated legal barriers can restrict access to care.

The American Veterinary Medical Association also explains that telemedicine depends on a valid VCPR, a standard that varies by state. That means access can depend less on a pet’s medical need and more on where that pet happens to live.

Low-income families may delay care when transportation and appointment costs pile up.

Washington Shows States Can Act

In 2026, Washington passed H.B. 2247, a law that expands veterinary telemedicine access while keeping professional safeguards. A Washington State Legislature bill report shows the law sets rules for VCPRs, allows defined telehealth uses, requires client consent, protects recordkeeping standards, and lets veterinarians deny telehealth treatment when a physical exam is needed.

That is the right balance.

Veterinary boards and lawmakers should not force families to choose between no care and surrender when safe remote care could help. Licensed veterinarians should have modern tools, clear rules, and the authority to use professional judgment.

Pets need care before crisis. Families need options before heartbreak. States should modernize veterinary laws now.