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ONTARIO—A telemedicine platform that already connects remote livestock operations in Yukon with veterinary care is exploring whether it can do the same for farmers on Manitoulin Island and across Ontario, after its CEO, Dr. Colin Yates PhD, reached out directly to The Expositor following coverage of the region’s large-animal veterinarian shortage.

The company, VetOn, links large-animal veterinary practices with clients over video call and has built partnerships with pharmacies and veterinary distributors across Ontario so that once a proper veterinarian-client-patient relationship is established remotely, medication can be shipped directly to a farm. He launched the agricultural telemedicine care platform alongside his father, Dr. Glen Yates DVM.

“We’re not going to pretend it’s better than in-person service,” said Dr. Yates in the interview. “Having a vet in person is always better, but short of that, we can help fill some gaps.”