Dr. Donna Debonis

I love helping pets and their people, but legally, it is against the law for me to prescribe medications unless I have physically touched the pet.
Please understand the constraint here in WA State: WA State does not permit prescriptions written for animals without an in person exam.

MY STORY | I've been a veterinarian since 1983 when I started my own housecall practice for all animals. Fast forward to 2008, I joined the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan to provide emergency care to Military Working Dogs injured in combat. Aside from those exciting and rewarding years caring for our 4-legged heroes, I left the Army to spend time with my own pets on beautiful Whidbey Island. So, now, I can provide advice to pet parents on Vetster!

PET FOOD SAFETY | Are you concerned whether your pet food is safe? My Special interest, training, advanced degree and certifications are in Pet Food Safety. If you think your pet food made your pet sick,I will listen and match up the symptoms with the possible contaminant in the pet food. This is called Teletriage and it is allowed in WA state for emergency type situations like this. TELEADVICE | For questions about medical issues in general that are not specific, I can provide advice and education in WA state if I have not examined a pet in person. I cannot write prescriptions or provide a diagnosis due to Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship regulations.

VCPR | Chapter 246-933 WAC, Veterinarians - Veterinary Board 246-933-200 Veterinary-client–patient relationship. The veterinarian shall not establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship solely by telephonic or other electronic means.

DISCLAIMER | The content of this page is not veterinary advice on treatment of diagnosis. A number of factors (amount of substance ingested, size of the animal, allergies, etc.) determine what is toxic to a particular pet. If you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, seek immediate veterinary treatment.