APRIL 22.2025

Subject: Ohio Senate Bill 60 – Give Your Constituents a Voice on Veterinary Telehealth



Dear Senator and Sr. Legislative Aide,

As you conclude your work on the state budget, I urge you to take a serious look at Senate Bill 60 – a common-sense approach to expanding veterinary telehealth in Ohio.

Introduced by Senators Wilkin and Huffman, this bill (to amend section 4741.04 and enact section 4741.041 of the Revised Code) establishes clear requirements and procedures for telehealth visits by licensed veterinarians. It’s a long-overdue modernization of care delivery in a profession that—like human medicine—must evolve to meet the needs of today’s pet owners and rescue organizations.

Let me be frank: the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) is actively lobbying against this bill without consulting or polling their own membership. That’s a disservice to both veterinarians and the people of Ohio. You will have veterinarians coming to your offices next week on OVMA’s Legislative Day that will be lobbying for you to vote against this Bill. As I found out last year, if you have an opinion that goes against what their Board wants, they will send their lobbyist with you to babysit you and express their views and not allow you to have an opinion. If Ohioans were asked, there’s no doubt a very strong majority would support this measure. Unfortunately, the public is largely unaware this bill is even on the table.

United Pet Fund, a nonprofit community resource provider to over 250 animal shelters, rescues, and advocacy groups across Ohio and the Midwest, is launching a campaign to change that. We believe SB 60 is a critical tool for increasing access to animal health care—especially in underserved communities, rural areas, and for animal shelters and rescues working on shoestring budgets.

The primary opposition argument rests on misinterpreting federal regulations that govern veterinary telemedicine. In reality, the Federal law cited (related to Extra Label Drug use) does not prohibit virtual exams and does not require an in-person examination in all cases.

This is about giving Ohio veterinarians the tools they need to serve animals and their owners more efficiently—safely and responsibly—while reducing unnecessary hurdles.

Please take the time to consider Senate Bill 60 from the perspective of your constituents. They deserve better access, more choice, and a say in how veterinary care is delivered in our state.

Sincerely,

Zeke Zekoff, DVM

Dr. Zeke Zekoff

President and Founder, United Pet Fund

Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Kyle Veterinary Hospital

OVMA Distinguished Service Award Winner (2010)

Past President, Ohio Animal Health Foundation

drzpettalk@gmail.com

P.S. An FYI, Dr. Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, Dean of The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine, testified last Fall in FAVOR of Senate Bill 60. You can find a great amount of informative materials about Veterinary Telehealth by going to the Website for the Veterinary Virtual Care Association. 

P.S.S.  OP-ED on Veterinary Telehealth: “ The Doctor is Ready to See You Now…”