Veterinary Telehealth: Which States Let Vets Treat Your Dog Online, and is Nevada on the List?
There’s nothing more stressful than seeing your dog feeling under the weather — and in those moments, most pet parents would do anything to avoid a stressful trip to a crowded clinic or a long wait in traffic. That’s why virtual veterinary care has become such a hot topic. But until recently, a patchwork of state laws made it tough (and sometimes illegal) for vets to fully treat dogs via telehealth alone. In 2025, though, historic changes are coming, with several states relaxing the rules to allow veterinarians to diagnose and prescribe medications remotely, without requiring you to step foot inside a clinic first. Here’s what every dog owner should know about this new era in pet telemedicine.
The Legal Bedrock of Veterinary Care
If you’re not familiar with the term VCPR, you’re not alone. A Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is the legal and ethical foundation for how veterinarians are allowed to care for your dog. It means your veterinarian has gotten to know your pet well enough — generally through an in-person exam — so they can responsibly diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for your animal. Until recently, almost every state demanded this relationship begin in the clinic. If you hadn’t met the vet face-to-face with your dog, virtual care was limited to triage, general guidance, or advice — never prescriptions or treatment plans. But as technology and society change, so do the laws, and in 2025, some states are officially embracing telehealth-only VCPR.
Which States Allow Veterinary Telehealth Without an In-Person Visit?
As of late 2025, the rules are finally catching up with modern pet care needs. In eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont, and Virginia — veterinarians can now legally establish a VCPR over video, meaning that a telehealth appointment is all that’s needed to diagnose your dog, prescribe medication, and oversee treatment for a wide variety of common concerns. These changes bring veterinary care closer to home, or really, into your home, cutting down on both your stress levels and your pup’s.
Spotlight on Ohio’s New Telehealth Law
Ohio is one of the freshest faces on this list, having enacted telehealth VCPR legislation in September 2025. So, what’s actually changed for Ohio pet parents? First, veterinarians can legally conduct your first appointment by video call, getting your dog the attention — and, if needed, medication — they need without waiting for an in-person visit. There are some guardrails: at first, prescriptions are limited to a 14-day supply, and only after a second telehealth check-in can you get a refill for another two weeks. Every case must be something that a vet determines can be safely and accurately managed via telehealth, and only Ohio-licensed veterinarians can participate. This system strikes a careful balance, expanding access without tossing out the safety net of professional oversight.
What’s the Situation in Other States?
If you don’t live in one of those eight states, the sad truth is that most veterinary telehealth is still boxed in by old regulations. Across the rest of the country, virtual care is limited to advice and triage only: veterinarians can’t diagnose new problems or prescribe medication unless they’ve previously seen your pet in person. Some states relax the rules for follow-up care — so if you have an established VCPR thanks to a prior clinic visit, you might be able to book convenient check-ins online. But unless you’ve already met your vet face-to-face with your dog, you’ll need to schedule that first office visit to unlock the full suite of services.
Why Veterinary Telehealth Matters for Dog Owners
The recent expansion of veterinary telehealth isn’t just a technical detail — it’s a lifesaver for countless dog owners. For those in rural communities, where finding a veterinarian can mean hours of travel, or for seniors and disabled pet parents for whom clinic visits are burdensome, telemedicine opens up access to timely, expert care. Families juggling work, kids, and dogs can now fit vet appointments into their own schedules, rather than the other way around. And for anxious pets or dogs with mobility challenges, the ability to see a vet from the safety and comfort of home is a genuine game-changer. Even for everyday concerns — think skin allergies, minor digestive upsets, or behavior consults — virtual care can save both time and worry.
What’s Next?
Telehealth isn’t going to replace brick-and-mortar vet clinics anytime soon. But for dog owners in Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont, and Virginia, it now stands as a real option for getting answers and even prescriptions without leaving the house. If you live in one of these states, ask your current vet about telehealth appointments, or check out digital-first veterinary services that are starting to pop up in response to the new laws. For Nevada residents and those in the rest of the country, virtual veterinary advice is still valuable for guidance and next steps, but that all-important first vet visit remains the golden ticket to full remote care.
