If you’ve visited your vet’s office lately, you might have noticed that they are now offering your pet’s medical records digitally, through what’s often referred to as a “pet portal.” When you log into your pet portal, you can view their medical history, share information with your veterinary team, and see when they’re due for their next appointment.
Although not all veterinarians provide this service yet, pet portals are an easy and accessible way to stay up-to-date with your pet’s health and wellbeing. In this post, we’ll share a bit more detail about how pet portals typically work, including what type of information you can access and how to set yours up.
How do you use a pet portal?
Using a pet portal is similar to accessing your email or your own online medical records. You’ll first need to register with the service, which your vet staff should be able to walk you through. From there, you will set up your login credentials to successfully sign into the pet portal.
Once you’ve created your username and password, you’ll need to log in to your account. The way you do this depends on the configuration of your pet portal. But generally speaking, there are a couple of common ways to access your pet portal.
In some cases, you can find the login link on your vet’s website. In other cases, you’ll be asked to log in through a site like Petly. Petly is an online tool that many vets use to host their pet portals. The site allows you to upload photos and information about your pets. It also provides a place for your veterinarian to add things like medical notes and appointment reminders.
What information can you find in a pet portal?
After you’ve logged in, you’ll be able to view and manage your pet’s health information. Depending on how your vet’s office has chosen to set up their pet portal, you’ll likely be able to do things like:
- Request an appointment
- Find out when your animal is due for an appointment or medication refill
- View your pet’s medical history and vaccines (if they’re on file with your vet)
- View your pet’s test results
- Contact your vet’s office about your pet’s health
All of the information in your pet portal should be stored securely. Check with your vet clinic if you have concerns about the security of your data.
How do you create one?
You’ll need to contact your vet’s office and ask if they offer online account management, such as pet portals. They may or may not have the technology in place yet. If they don’t, let them know that you think it would be useful to have a pet portal (or similar online tool) available for pet owners to use.
While pet portals aren’t essential, they are a convenient way to stay in touch with your vet about your furry friend. If you’re interested in using one, be sure to ask your vet’s admin team if they offer this type of service.
For more pet ownership resources and tips, check out the PetPonder blog.
