Veterinary telemedicine: Current trends, benefits, and challenges in clinical practice

Abstract

Telemedicine has emerged as a key innovation in veterinary practice, particularly in response to the growing demand for rapid, efficient, and accessible animal healthcare in the digital era. Its applications encompass remote consultations, health monitoring, emergency triage, and owner education through digital platforms and mobile devices. This review aims to analyze current trends, benefits, and limitations of veterinary telemedicine, as well as evaluate its implications for the quality of clinical services. Relevant literature was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using keywords such as “veterinary telemedicine,” “telehealth in animals,” and “remote veterinary consultation,” with a focus on publications from the past decade. The findings indicate that telemedicine significantly improves service accessibility, particularly for owners in remote areas, while enhancing time and cost efficiency. It also supports chronic disease monitoring, facilitates collaboration among veterinary specialists, and strengthens owner education. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including inconsistent regulatory frameworks, diagnostic limitations due to restricted physical examinations, technical barriers such as poor internet connectivity, and difficulties in building owner trust in remote services. In conclusion, veterinary telemedicine holds substantial potential to strengthen modern clinical practice by improving efficiency and access to care. The development of standardized protocols, integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), and targeted training for both professionals and animal owners represent strategic measures to address current limitations. Further research is warranted to assess its effectiveness, safety, and user satisfaction, thereby ensuring optimal and sustainable implementation in veterinary medicine.