When your pet isn’t feeling well, one of the first questions you face is: should I book an online veterinary hospice consultation or take them to the clinic? As a hospice vet who has used both traditional practice appointments and video consultations for years, I understand this dilemma—especially when you’re caring for an elderly or unwell pet.
The truth is, both online veterinary hospice consultations and in-clinic visits have their place in your pet’s healthcare. The key is knowing which situations call for which type of care. Let me help you understand the differences and guide you in making the right choice for your pet.
Understanding the Two Options
In-Clinic Veterinary Visits
Traditional veterinary appointments involve taking your pet to the practice, where a vet can perform a hands-on physical examination, run diagnostic tests, prescribe medication, and carry out procedures or treatments.
Online veterinary hospice consultations
Video consultations connect you with a qualified veterinary professional from your own home. The vet can observe your pet in their natural environment, discuss your concerns, provide guidance, and help you determine whether an in-person visit is necessary.
It’s important to understand that online veterinary hospice consultations are not “instead of” traditional veterinary care—they’re a supportive tool that works alongside your regular vet.
When to Choose an In-Clinic Visit
Some situations absolutely require an in-person veterinary appointment. You should take your pet to the clinic when:
Examples of Emergency Situations
- Your pet is in acute pain
- Difficulty breathing or rapid, laboured breathing
- Severe vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood
- Suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion
- Sudden collapse or loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Severe injuries or trauma
- Bloated, hard abdomen (especially in large dogs)
- Straining to urinate or complete inability to urinate
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your nearest emergency clinic immediately. Do not delay for an online veterinary hospice consultation.
Diagnostic Requirements
Your pet needs an in-clinic visit if they require:
- Blood tests or urine analysis
- X-rays or ultrasound scans
- Physical examination of lumps or internal organs
- Temperature checks
- Heart or lung examinations with a stethoscope
- Skin scrapings or biopsies
- Any hands-on diagnostic procedure
Treatment and Prescriptions
In-person visits are necessary for:
- Prescription medications (vets cannot prescribe based solely on video consultations)
- Vaccinations or boosters
- Wound cleaning or suturing
- Dental procedures
- Surgery of any kind
- Intravenous fluids or injections
- Bandage changes or wound management
New or Undiagnosed Conditions
If your pet still needs a diagnosis and you don’t know what’s wrong, an in-clinic visit is usually the best first step. Physical examinations and diagnostic tests are essential for identifying new health problems.
When an Online veterinary hospice consultation Is Appropriate
Online vet consults work particularly well for specific situations, especially with elderly pets. Here’s where they truly shine:
Quality of Life Assessments
As hospice vets, we talk about quality of life constantly with poorly and elderly pets. It’s something intricately linked with the bond you share with your pet. You want them to feel good and have a good life, but sometimes it’s hard to know how they’re truly doing without professional support.
An online veterinary hospice consultation allows us to see your pet in their home environment—watching how they move, interact with family, and behave when relaxed. This gives us a much clearer picture than seeing a stressed pet in a clinical setting.
Chronic Pain Monitoring
Many elderly pets find travelling to the veterinary practice stressful or even painful. Worse still, pets are masters at hiding pain when they’re stressed or in an unfamiliar environment.
During an online veterinary hospice consultation, we can observe your pet at home where they’re comfortable, making it easier to spot subtle signs of discomfort. We can guide you on what to look out for and how to monitor your pet’s pain levels between clinic visits.
Decision-Making Support
Perhaps one of the most valuable uses of online consults is helping pet owners who are struggling with the timing of letting a pet go. It can be incredibly comforting to get a professional opinion, and doing so without having to move your poorly pet makes the process completely stress-free.
Guidance Between Vet Visits
If you have a worry or you’re unsure about something—maybe your pet’s eating habit has changed slightly, they seem a bit quieter than usual, or you’re wondering if a symptom warrants an urgent visit—an online veterinary hospice consultation provides affordable, accessible guidance.
Monitoring Chronic Conditions
For pets with ongoing conditions like kidney disease, arthritis, or heart conditions who are already under veterinary care, online veterinary hospice consultations can help you:
- Monitor symptoms between check-ups
- Discuss changes in behaviour or appetite
- Get advice on managing their condition at home
- Get advice on their environment
- Determine whether their symptoms need urgent attention
- Discuss how to balance your pet’s preferences to support Quality of Life
Second Opinions
If you’re facing a difficult decision about your pet’s care or end-of-life choices, an online veterinary hospice consultation can provide a second professional opinion without the stress of travel.
The Advantages of Each Approach
Benefits of In-Clinic Visits
- Complete physical examination
- Diagnostic testing available immediately
- Ability to prescribe medication
- Hands-on treatment and procedures
- Emergency care capabilities
- Full range of veterinary services
Benefits of Online veterinary hospice consultations
- No stressful travel for elderly or poorly pets
- See your pet in their natural, comfortable environment
- More accurate assessment of home behaviour and pain levels
- Convenient and accessible from anywhere
- Often more affordable for guidance and monitoring
- Quick access to professional advice
- Ability to assess the pet’s environment
Many elderly pets can find travelling quite stressful or in some cases painful, which can make it tricky when you have a worry. Some pets are lucky enough to have a travelling vet for their check-ups, but sadly these are few and far between. It’s often not possible for vets in traditional practices to travel out of the practice, as they have patients in the building that they cannot leave unattended.
Why Video Is Essential for Online veterinary hospice consultations
I love seeing pets on video—it’s far more useful than a simple phone conversation. Being able to watch your pet move, see how they settle, observe their breathing, and notice their interaction with you provides crucial information.
At Dignipets, we use video calls (we call them online vet consults) to help guide pet owners who struggle with judging their pet’s quality of life. Seeing a pet on video in their own environment, watching how they move and interact with their family, helps us assess their wellbeing accurately—and helps us catch those that really do need to see an in-clinic vet urgently.
Over the years we have supported many pets virtually when faced with life limiting illness, providing support and guidance on how to best preserve and improve their quality of life. What I find most rewarding is the feeling of what we can achieve with so little disturbance for the pet, which in turn is so important for the bond they have with their people.
How to Decide: A Quick Decision Guide
Choose an in-clinic vet visit if:
- Your pet is in acute pain or distress
- They need a diagnosis for a new problem
- Emergency symptoms are present
- Physical examination or tests are needed
- Medication prescriptions are required
- Any hands-on treatment is necessary
Choose an online veterinary hospice consultation if:
- You need quality of life guidance for an elderly pet
- You’re monitoring a chronic condition already diagnosed
- Your pet finds travel very stressful or painful
- You need help deciding if symptoms warrant an urgent visit
- You want a second opinion on end-of-life decisions
- You need advice on managing your pet’s comfort at home
- You’re unsure about pain levels and need professional observation
Using Both Options Together
The most effective approach often involves using online veterinary hospice consultations and in-clinic visits together. For example:
- Your elderly dog has arthritis (diagnosed at the clinic). You use online veterinary hospice consultations to monitor their pain levels and mobility between physical check-ups.
- Your cat seems slightly off. An online veterinary hospice consultation helps you determine whether it’s urgent enough for an emergency visit or can wait until morning.
- Your pet has a terminal condition. Regular online veterinary hospice consultations help you assess quality of life, whilst your regular vet manages medical treatments.
At Dignipets, we’ve found that online vet consults work best as part of a comprehensive care approach. We always work alongside your existing veterinary practice, never replacing them.
What You Can’t Expect from an Online veterinary hospice consultation
To make the right choice, it’s important to understand what online veterinary hospice consultations cannot provide:
- No physical contact: We can’t feel lumps, palpate the abdomen, or examine inside the mouth
- No prescriptions: Vets cannot prescribe medication based solely on video consultations
- No diagnostic tests: We can’t run blood work, take X-rays, or perform procedures
- Not for emergencies: Acute conditions requiring immediate intervention need in-clinic care
Making Your Decision Easier
If you’re unsure which option to choose, consider these questions:
- Is my pet in immediate distress or pain? → In-clinic visit
- Has this condition been diagnosed before? → Online consult may work
- Do they need medication? → In-clinic visit
- Am I worried about their quality of life? → Online consult is ideal
- Does my pet become very stressed travelling? → Try online first if appropriate
- Is this a new symptom I’ve never seen? → In-clinic visit likely needed
- Am I considering euthanasia and need guidance? -> Online consult
Getting the Best of Both Worlds
The good news is that you don’t have to choose between online and in-clinic care forever—you can use whichever is most appropriate for each situation.
Since well before the pandemic, I’ve been using video calls with clients as a supportive tool in providing affordable guidance for my hospice clients. It will never be “instead of” traditional care, but it can be invaluable as a first step in many situations.
At Dignipets, our RCVS-registered vets and nurses (all with over 10 years’ experience and Certified in Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care) use online veterinary hospice consultations to complement your regular veterinary care, not replace it.
Final Thoughts
Understanding when to use an online veterinary hospice consultation versus an in-clinic visit empowers you to make the best decisions for your pet’s health and wellbeing. For elderly pets especially, having both options available means you can access professional guidance without unnecessary stress, whilst still ensuring they receive hands-on care when they truly need it.
Remember: if you’re ever in doubt, err on the side of caution. If symptoms seem serious or you’re worried about your pet’s immediate safety, always choose an in-clinic or emergency visit.
Need guidance on your pet’s care? Download our free Dignipets app to connect with our compassionate hospice team through video consultation, or use our Quality of Life tracker to monitor your pet’s wellbeing at home.
This article is written by RCVS-registered veterinary professionals specialising in hospice and palliative care. Online veterinary hospice consultations are designed to complement, not replace, traditional veterinary care provided by your regular vet.
