Veterinary telerehabilitation was as satisfactory as in-person consultations.

Objective: To evaluate client satisfaction with telerehabilitation consultations compared to in-person consultations for veterinary rehabilitation referrals. Animals: We surveyed the owners of 32 client-owned dogs. Procedure: Dog owners were scheduled for telemedicine (telerehabilitation group) or in-person (control group) based on a combination of owner requests and medical recommendations. Medical records were obtained before evaluation. Owners were sent an electronic questionnaire following in-person or telerehabilitation consultations. A total of 32 surveys were received (16 for each group). The response rate was 55% (32/58 surveys sent). Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare ordinal characteristics between satisfied and unsatisfied clients. Descriptive statistics for the client population, including ranges and medians, were calculated for owner travel distance and patient signalment.

Results: Satisfaction regarding scheduling appointments was higher in the telerehabilitation group compared to the group receiving in-person consultations (P < 0.001). For all other aspects of client satisfaction, there were no significant differences between groups.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated high client satisfaction with using telemedicine for canine rehabilitation consultations that was comparable to that for in-person consultations. Clinical relevance: Telerehabilitation is a viable option that can be easily implemented by rehabilitation practitioners for assessment, progression, and monitoring of canine patients. Further studies are indicated to evaluate the efficacy of telerehabilitation.