The WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital has recently acquired new technology to make caring for your furry friend a little less stressful.

MedaVet, a company based out of Redmond, Washington, created software in which clients can stay up to date with appointments and surgeries, as well as communicate better with their veterinarian.

WSU is one of the first universities to use this new software as of last week.

The program was originally created to keep people from re-admitting to the hospital after surgery by providing them with adequate post-surgery care instructions.

“After a board member came to us after his dog had surgery, he told us we had to create this for veterinarians as well,” CEO of MedaVet Kelly Altom said.

The program is geared toward small animal and equine veterinarians in Washington State.

“We mostly deal with dogs, cats and horses,” Altom said, “but we have a vet in Whidbey Island who has a heard of llamas. We’re versatile.”

The program allows for clients to receive an extremely detailed recovery plan for their patient, which they can access by phone, tablet or computer.

 “The idea that it allows the owners to follow step by step directions of how to treat their animals is something I think is really beneficial,” small animal surgery coordinator Kayla Bakke said.

For example the MedaVet application allows owners to receive a notification for when the patient is supposed to receive its medication or come in for an appointment.

 “It provides how-to videos as well as access to an online forum to chat with other clients who have rehabbed the same procedures,” Altom said.

 It can also walk the owners through the surgery that their animal is going through so they gain a better understanding of the procedure.

“Three of the veterinary services in our hospital are using it,” said Bryan Slinker, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, “but it is mostly for surgery at the moment.”

According to the American Pet Products Association, 83 percent of pet owners said surgical visits were double other expenses combined.

“Because of the amount of learning material that is provided for them, it is easier for the clients to understand what their post-surgery procedures are,” Bakke said, “hopefully bringing less patients back.”

Altom, said the program has only been in use for one week and they already have seven patients, with four received on the same day.

“We’re very hopeful,” Slinker said. “We are always looking for ways to improve communication and our veterinary care.”