Study finds teletriage diverted 77% of canine GI cases from ER visits

A new study from VetTriage, Cornell University and Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell found that professional teletriage safely kept most dogs with gastrointestinal symptoms out of emergency clinics. The findings point to a possible way to ease veterinary ER overcrowding during a staffing crisis.

Why it matters: - Veterinary emergency rooms are under pressure from staffing shortages and heavy demand. - The study suggests teletriage can sort true emergencies from cases that can be monitored at home. - That could reduce ER overcrowding and help pet owners get faster guidance.

What happened: - A study published in the Open Veterinary Journal analyzed 1,575 canine patients with gastrointestinal signs. - The research team included Shadi J. Ireifej of VetTriage, Samantha L. Morello of Cornell University and Marty Lesser of Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. - The study found that 23% of dogs with GI signs needed immediate in-person emergency referral. - The remaining 77%, or 1,215 patients, were managed at home with palliative care and monitoring instructions until their regular veterinarian was available.

The details: - Vomiting was the most common symptom, appearing in 62% of cases. - Vomiting alone was linked to 50% higher odds of a referral recommendation. - Abdominal distention and lethargy showed the strongest links to emergency referral, with odds rising 174% and 126%, respectively. - Dogs with vomiting alone, abdominal distention, or a mix of lethargy, anorexia and abdominal distention were more likely to be referred. - Dogs already on medication had 60% lower odds of emergency referral. - VetTriage said the pattern suggests pets already under ongoing veterinary care may be less likely to need emergency escalation. - Dr. Shadi J. Ireifej called teletriage “a vital filter for the modern veterinary ecosystem” and said it can help identify real emergencies while giving owners peace of mind.

Between the lines: - The findings support a broader shift toward remote veterinary screening before an in-person ER visit. - The study’s conclusion that synchronous video teletriage has “tremendous promise” points to its possible value in stretching limited veterinary capacity. - The results also suggest teletriage may be most useful where access is limited by geography, cost or clinic availability.

What's next: - VetTriage says it offers 24/7 video access to veterinarians for teletriage and teleadvice. - The company says the service is designed to connect pets with the right level of care at the right time. - The study adds evidence that teletriage could become a standard front door for many non-critical GI cases.