A north Norfolk veterinary practice has turned to technology to keep caring for animals during the coronavirus lockdown.
Westover Veterinary Centre, which has practices in North Walsham, Hainford, Caister and Breckland, has started offering video consultations for people worried about their pets.
Toby Morell, Westover’s small animal director, said: “Whilst we will always provide emergency care, there are many cases where timely intervention can prevent a minor ailment becoming serious.
“From a coughing patient to vomiting, diarrhoea and lameness, non-emergency issues can be distressing for patients and owners alike.
“Customers have given us really positive feedback and find it reassuring that they can still have access to proper veterinary expertise without leaving their home.”
Mr Morell said they worked with a firm called FurtherMore Marketing to build a ‘telemedicine’ platform “in record time”.
The platform allows online bookings before a consultation over Zoom. Mr Morell said: “If it becomes clear that a trip to the clinic is required, we take the cost of the video call off any treatment.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here