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TeleAdvice Appointments

Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice offers a variety of services via video conferencing technology. TeleAdvice visits provide even greater flexibility for pet families. This technology also allows for conversations amongst family members in multiple locations and provides the opportunity for all involved to ask questions and provide feedback in the decision making process.

Schedule A TeleAdvice Appointment
TeleAdvice Appointment
Teleadvice vet

A TeleAdvice Appointment May Work For You

We use Zoom to conduct our virtual visits. Participants can join each visit without any additional steps, however, for a more feature rich experience we recommend downloading the desktop app. If you’d like to use your smartphone or tablet, you will need to download the Zoom App found in your App store. Using Zoom allows us to provide video recordings after each video consultation.

Telehealth Appointments

– Quality of Life Assessments: $175

– Recheck Appointments (*established patients): $125

– Medication Adjustment (*established patients): $75

*The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine require a physical examination for a veterinarian to diagnose and treat a medical condition and/or to prescribe medications. At this time, neither governing body allows establishing a new doctor-client-patient relationship via virtual means. Once we have established your pet as an active patient, telehealth management is available.

Schedule A TeleAdvice Appointment

How Does A TeleAdvice Appointment Work?

  1. Please fill out the TeleAdvice Request Form in its entirety.
  2. Please expect a phone call from our team within 24 hours. If you have not received a response within 24 hours, please call our Client Care Team. 
  3. Choose a time that works for your family that you and your pet will be available, without distractions, to have a face-to-face virtual meeting. Your veterinary hospice and palliative care professional may want to see your pet during the consult to evaluate their breathing, attitude, comfort, ability/lack of ability to stand and walk, physical ailments, etc…
  4. At your scheduled time, you may visit with your veterinary hospice and palliative care professional on your phone, laptop, tablet, etc…
  5. Click on the link provided in your email to open the virtual platform. No apps are typically needed.
  6. The appointment will generally follow these steps and will be recorded (with your permission):
    • A visual introduction to your pet.
    • Discussion about how to objectively measure quality of life long term.
    • Your pet’s specific concerns and what to expect as you move forward in this journey.
    • Our veterinary hospice and palliative care professional will give you an objective opinion about your pet’s current status, and how a humane euthanasia looks like in the home, when the time comes.
  7. Regardless of whether you elect palliative care or humane euthanasia during your appointment, your veterinary hospice and palliative care professional will email you the appointment summary, Quality of Life information, handouts pertinent to your pet’s condition(s), and grief support resources.
  8. Your Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice veterinary hospice and palliative care professional will contact your family veterinarian via email and share your pet’s Care Plan so that your pet’s care team is on the same page moving forward.
Schedule A TeleAdvice Appointment

What Type of Consult is Best for My Pet?

TeleAdvice Appointment

A TeleAdvice Appointment is a great opportunity to discuss your pet’s current condition, any diagnoses your pet has been given, for you to learn how to objectively evaluate and measure quality of life, and to develop a palliative care and/or end of life plan for your pet. This option is best for pets that are being monitored and cared for by your family veterinarian as an added resource to your pet’s care team.

While we are happy to schedule a TeleAdvice appointment with any family for any situation, there are limitations that prevent a thorough physical exam, diagnostics, and certain prescribing abilities due to state law, so if you are at the beginning of your pet’s end of life journey, a visit to your family veterinarian may be recommended to be sure your pet has the best quality of life possible during their journey.

In-Person Consult
An In-Person Consult is also a great opportunity to discuss all of the above as well as have a hands-on exam for your pet. This can help determine underlying concerns that should be addressed and if humane euthanasia is elected, your pet’s peaceful passing can occur at the same appointment. This option is best for pets that may or may not be monitored and cared for by your family veterinarian, pets who cannot safely or easily be transported to your family veterinarian anymore, or your pet that you believe may be at the end of their journey but you’d like an objective hands-on evaluation before making the decision to provide humane euthanasia. Your pet must be tolerant of strangers for this appointment to be successful. The limitations of this type of appointment are that diagnostics (radiographs/bloodwork) cannot be performed so diagnoses cannot be made but some prescriptions can be scripted/refilled at the veterinarian’s discretion.
Veterinary Visit
A Veterinary Visit at your family veterinarian is recommended for any pets that need diagnostics (blood work, radiographs, etc…) to diagnose their ailments or for routine monitoring for certain long term medications or conditions. It is in your pet’s best interest to have a diversified care team as you enter into their end of life journey and we are happy to communicate with your veterinarian to be sure your pet’s care team is on the same page every step of the way.

We look forward to meeting you and your pet in-person and/or virtually; please let us know how we can best support your family during this time.

What is a quality of life assessment?

During a Quality of Life Assessment, one of our doctors can help walk your family through the decision making processes toward the end of your pet’s life. Many families are unsure if they are making the right choices for their pet- often wondering if they are not doing enough, doing too much, or if they are “keeping them around just for us.” These highly emotional decisions can be complicated and some families need professional assistance in clear decision making.

Quality of Life Assessments can help you determine if your pet is in pain or if their daily struggles are compromising their dignity and quality of life. Our doctors can offer additional guidance to help improve your pet’s quality of life- general treatment options, tips for giving oral medications, ways to encourage eating, and small changes in the home and yard to further support your pet.

Quality of Life Assessments can also help determine if other palliative and supportive care options are available. Our doctors will help your family decide if and when it will be time to consider euthanasia. Assessments will also include a description of how to prepare for euthanasia and what to expect during that visit. These discussions can be personalized to include advice for preparing for loss with children, other pets in the home, and any unique family circumstances. Our virtual consultations last approximately 1 hour, providing the time needed to discuss your pet’s quality of life in a non-hurried and supportive manner, taking into consideration your concerns and goals. Please keep in mind, our doctors may recommend an in-person visit to establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship if your family would like to pursue palliative care.

Client Testimonials

“Dr Kelly was wonderful and went well beyond the 30 minutes to make sure she answered every concern. She is so compassionate and a wonderful listener!”

Anonymous TeleAdvice Client from a Survey Response

Read More Testimonials
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Please complete the detailed intake form below to schedule a TeleAdvice Appointment. Your request will be reviewed by a veterinarian who will follow up with email instructions, scheduling options, and a web link to join the video conference within 1-2 days.

Please check your email daily after submitting your request as this will be our initial follow up in communication, thank you.

Note: You can participate using an Internet-connected smart phone, tablet, or computer, a webcam and microphone are required to engage with the video conference.

Please complete the detailed intake form below to schedule a TeleAdvice Appointment. Your request will be reviewed by a veterinarian who will follow up with email instructions, scheduling options, and a web link to join the video conference within 1-2 days.

Please check your email daily after submitting your request as this will be our initial follow up in communication, thank you.

Note: You can participate using an Internet-connected smart phone, tablet, or computer, a webcam and microphone are required to engage with the video conference.

Please complete the detailed intake form below to schedule a TeleAdvice Appointment. Your request will be reviewed by a veterinarian who will follow up with email instructions, scheduling options, and a web link to join the video conference within 1-2 days.

Please check your email daily after submitting your request as this will be our initial follow up in communication, thank you.

Note: You can participate using an Internet-connected smart phone, tablet, or computer, a webcam and microphone are required to engage with the video conference.