Vets are considered to be providers of an essential service, so, in most places, they can remain open during COVID-19 stay-at-home rules. Even so, they are looking for creative ways to keep themselves, their staffs, and their patients safe.

Like telemedicine. Or drive-through service — or carhop service, where a tech gets the pet from the car so the driver doesn’t have contact with the clinic staff.

I’m not a huge fan of vet practices where they take my dog “to the back” and I don’t get to see what is done to her, but in these times, I do understand the need.

The telemedicine is more of a mystery. I know many people with two operable thumbs who have difficulty with videoconference tools, what with the mouse, the camera, getting the audio to work … How’s Cali supposed to manage all of that? Then there’s the whole question of how she explains where it hurts … I don’t know.

In all seriousness, the ability to consult and even get medications prescribed via telemedicine can reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 by reducing contact between humans. I’ll be curious to see whether people take to tele-vet services and whether they remain an option after the pandemic ends.

Maybe Cali could get her next vaccination via telemedicine … or avoid that scene with the soup ladle and the urine sample. She’d like that. I hate to be the one to tell her that there are some thing you just have to do in person. Or in dog.