The FDA recently published a Q&A page about federal requirements related to a veterinarian’s role in dispensing prescription animal drugs and establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship in the course of practice. The page only covers the veterinarian’s obligations under federal law. Consult state licensing boards to determine if there are additional requirements at the state or local level.
Source: FDA, September 4, 2024 as seen in Brakke Consulting Animal Health News. Link.
From the FDA Q&A page:
Can a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship be established through telemedicine?
The federal VCPR definition (21 CFR 530.3(i)) includes the following requirement: “The practicing veterinarian is readily available for follow-up in case of adverse reactions or failure of the regimen of therapy. Such a relationship can exist only when the veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal(s) by virtue of examination of the animal(s) and/or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal(s) are kept.” Therefore, for the purposes of the federal definition, a valid VCPR cannot be established solely through telemedicine (e.g., photos, videos, or other electronic means that do not involve examination of the animal(s) or timely visits to the premises). However, once a VCPR is established, telemedicine can be a useful tool for maintaining the VCPR.