Abstract

Background:
Veterinary telehealth can provide veterinary care to various species, geographic locations, client demographics, and practice types. Factors influencing the veterinarian decision when teletriage and teleadvice are administered to a large number of dogs with gastrointestinal (GI) signs have not been previously reported.

Aim:
To report on dogs evaluated via a veterinarian-led teletriage and teleadvice synchronous video service for GI signs to determine factors associated with referral recommendation for in-person emergency (ER) evaluation.

Methods:
The number of animals was 1,575 dogs. Case records summarizing video telehealth evaluations of dogs presenting for GI symptoms performed by veterinarians were reviewed, and data on signalment, history, and clinical signs were collected. Visit outcome was recorded as to whether the patient received a recommendation for an in-person ER referral. The primary statistical objective was to determine which variables were significantly associated with ER referral.

Results:
Overall, 23% of the cases presented were recommended for in-person ER referral. Vomiting was the most common clinical complaint (62%) and was associated with a 50% greater odds of referral recommendation. Diarrhea was present in 43% of patients and was associated with a 31% lower odds of referral. Abdominal distention and lethargy were associated with the greatest increase in odds of referral recommendation (174% and 126%, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression identified that vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, the presence of other clinical signs, and abdominal distention were significantly associated with ER referral, and a current medication history was negatively associated with ER referral.

Conclusion:
Dogs with vomiting alone, with a combination of abdominal distention, or with a combination of lethargy, anorexia, abdominal distention, and other clinical signs, confirmed by a veterinarian-led synchronous video teleadvice and teletriage service, have increased odds of being referred to an emergency facility compared with dogs without these clinical signs.

Key words: Teletriage; Teleadvice; Dogs; Gastrointestinal.