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Telemedicine consultations should only occur within a valid VCPR; this is true regardless of whether the consultation occurs by telephone, email, or other medium. If it is allowed by a jurisdiction to create a virtual VCPR, it is still important to check with the appropriate authorities if prescribing is allowed under such a telehealth relationship.

Veterinary hospitals should be careful not to inadvertently provide telemedicine to new or prospective clients, since there is legal liability when a legitimate VCPR is absent.

In the United States, there is considerable variability between states as to laws for the provision of telemedicine services, so veterinarians should consult with their state licensing boards about what is permitted in the state Practice Act. It is particularly important to be aware of jurisdictions that require a physical examination or temperature/pulse/respiration notation for visits, or every time a patient is presented for a new clinical problem. It is also important to be aware if a jurisdiction requires some form of informed consent by the client for telehealth consultations. These rules can make telemedicine extremely challenging.

If no VCPR exists, it still might be possible for veterinarians to answer basic questions that would not constitute providing specific medical advice for any specific pet (e.g., “what is mange?,” “can dogs get chicken pox?,” “my cat is bleeding. Should I bring her in, or go to an emergency clinic?,” etc.).

Consultations with pet owners for which a VCPR has not been established are generally considered as either teleadvice or teletriage, rather than telemedicine. Both are still a subset of telehealth, even if they are not telemedicine. Teletriage might include providing advice for a pet that has consumed poison, whether that involves having them call a poison control hotline or advising them to go to the nearest emergency clinic. There are also now a variety of applications for pets using wearables, including remotely measuring pulse, respirations, temperature, position, and activity level, and this also constitutes teletriage, but this typically happens within a sanctioned VCPR.

Veterinarians providing telehealth must be legally authorized to practice veterinary medicine. Depending on the local jurisdiction, licensing requirements, and Practice Act, they may also be required to be licensed to practice in that specific state where the patient is located.