Buyer’s Guide – 10 of the Best Online Vet Services 2023

Online veterinary care is a way of delivering pet care services, usually via live chat and video consultations.

And it’s fair to say that these services have exploded in popularity in recent years, especially with cat owners.

It’s now possible to speak to a vet online from the comfort of your own home, without causing your cat undue stress.

So how does a virtual vet work? And who are the best providers of virtual veterinary consultations?

To answer these questions, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best online vet consultation services.

But before we do, there are a couple of things you need to be aware of.

Telehealth vs Telemedicine

There are two kinds of online pet care services: Telehealth and Telemedicine for pets.

Although both are used interchangeably, they have quite different meanings.

Telehealth is a broad term that includes all online animal health care services provided through telecommunications technology.

These E-Vet health services might include offering guidance to pet owners about preventative care, discussing nutrition and feline behaviour, or remotely monitoring a pet’s health.

Telemedicine, on the other hand, is a subset of telehealth and refers more specifically to clinical services provided remotely.

This could be a video call consultation with a vet, the diagnosis of an issue through digital images and the prescribing of medication.

Online Prescriptions – The Law

A lot of cat owners look for online vet prescription services.

Unfortunately, they’re availability depends on your state and is heavily influenced by rules set down by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA),

According to the AVMA, the diagnosis and provision of prescriptions can only be performed after a Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) has been established.

The specifics can vary by state – some allow for VCPRs to be established through a telemedicine visit.

But in most cases, you’ll need to have had at least one in-person visit with the vet that you’re communicating with online.

So you’ll definitely need to check your state’s laws before trying to get online veterinary prescriptions.

10 Best Online Vet Consultation Services

In our book, the following pet teleconsultation services are the 10 best online veterinary consultation services in the US, as of 2023.

We’ve ranked them according to value for money, taking into account things like the number of communication channels offered and the provision of emergency funds.

As you’ll see, some of these virtual vet platforms offer diagnosis and prescription services. But as far as we’re concerned, there’s no substitute for an in-person diagnosis!

Anyway, here’s our top ten.

Note – We have an affiliate partnership with brands marked * which means we make a small commission if you sign up with them. This is of no extra cost to you.

1. Chewy *
2. WhiskerDocs
3. Pawp *
4. FirstVet
5. PetCoach
6. Fuzzy
7. Ask Vet
8. Airvet
9. Hello Ralphie
10. Vetster

1. Chewy – Connect with a Vet

Chewy’s “Connect with a Vet” service is a virtual portal that connects you directly with licensed veterinarians for telehealth consultations.

How it Works

This online animal health care service is available via the Chewy website, allowing you to chat instantly or schedule a same-day video consultation,

Its team of vets can offer advice regarding health, well-being, food/nutrition and behavioral issues.

Guidance is also provided for emergencies although the service is primarily aimed at non-urgent consultations.

So can Chewy vets prescribe medication? Unfortunately not.

As mentioned, the Chewy online veterinarian service falls under the category of telehealth, not telemedicine.

Pricing and Plans

The instant advice service is free for customers and offers unlimited sessions.

Video consultations are free for those on Chewy Autoship or CarePlus plans. Otherwise a $19.99 charge is applied for 20 minute video calls.

Pros

• Direct access to licensed veterinarians
• Instant chat free for customers

Cons

• Exclusive to Customers and Autoship and CarePlus members
• No provision for emergency fund

Our Take

Chewy tops our list of the best online vets.

Already established as a leading pet supplies specialist, Chewy’s online animal health care platform represents real value for money.

It’s not without its shortcomings – there’s no emergency fund provision and a prescription service isn’t available.

Nevertheless, the instant consultation service is free for customers, as are video calls for Autoship and Careplus members.

We should point out here that Autoshop membership is completely free while the Careplus package starts at $20 – cheaper than most virtual vet services.

As far as pet teletriage services go, Chewy offers a package that’s hard to beat.

2. WhiskerDocs

WhiskerDocs offers 24/7 access to veterinary experts by telephone, chat or email.

How it Works

WhiskerDocs operates its service through the website. An app is also available, although this is for informational purposes only.

Supporting the consultation service is an extensive care library providing answers to common questions relating to behavior, disease and wellness.

Being a telehealth service, Whisker Docs isn’t able to write prescriptions and does not include an emergency fund either.

Instead, its vets provide help and guidance to owners regarding their pet’s symptoms. understanding their pet’s symptoms.

Pricing and Plans

A $39.99 fee applies to one-time phone calls and chats – an email consultation will cost you $4.99 per email.

Monthly and yearly plants are also available for $16.99 and $129.99 respectively.

Both provide unlimited support 24/7 – the yearly option also includes a discount when you add more pets to the plan.

Pros

• 24/7 access to veterinary advice
• Multiple Communication Channels
• Well-Priced Monthly and Yearly Plans
• Discounts for Adding Pets to Yearly Plan

Cons

• Expensive One-Off Consultations
• Prescriptions Not Provided
• No Emergency Fund

Our Take

Coming in at number 2 is WhiskerDocs. It was established way back in 2012 and offers an affordable online vet consultation service.

We like the fact that there are multiple communication options for owners.

But the real value is to be found in the email, monthly and yearly plans.

In many cases, the email service is going to be more than enough to provide reassurances to pet owners with non-urgent concerns – and it’s only $4.99.

And the monthly and yearly plans are also among the most affordable membership packages you’ll find with most any online vet service.

3. Pawp

Pawp aims to provide a “360 degree” approach to online pet healthcare.

To this end, it provides 24/7 access to vet professionals, on-demand consultations as well as outcome-based care plans.

How it Works

Pawp’s online veterinarian consultation service is available through its website or an app.

Once you sign up and provide details about your pet, you gain immediate access to virtual vet consultations.

You’ll also receive a care plan that’s tailored to your cat and be entitled to unlimited on-demand visits.

In addition to licensed vets, the Pawp team comprises nutritionists, behavioral specialists and trainers.

A $3000 emergency fund is provided as part of the subscription plan, too. This can be accessed once per year.

Pawp also pledges to pay surgery bills as part of emergency cases, provided you visit a surgery within 4 hours of the consultation.

Pricing and Plans

Pawp operates a subscription model that’s priced at $24 a month.

Pros

• 24/7 access to veterinary advice
• On-Demand Consultations
• Flat monthly fee for unlimited consultations
• Unique emergency surgery fund
• Emergency fund

Cons

• No prescriptions
• No yearly plan

Our Take

If you’re looking to speak to a vet online at an affordable price, then we’d highly recommend Pawp.

We were particularly impressed by the tailored cat plan, as well as the varied team of pet specialists at hand.

We also really liked the fact that Pawp offers to pay emergency surgery bills for owners – this is not something that you’ll find with most other veterinary telehealth services.

4. FirstVet

FirstVet provides both telehealth/teletriage and telemedical services.

So it’s able to provide live consultations with vets, as well as a subscription service, albeit for New Jersey and New York only.

How it Works

FirstVet offers video consultations with experienced veterinarians, covering topics such as preventative care, nutrition, behavior and minor injuries or illnesses.

The online vet service is available through a mobile app which you can download via the AppStore or Google Play.

Once downloaded, you create an account and answer questions about your cat’s symptoms.

After submission, you’ll be able to schedule a 15-minute video consultation at a time of your choosing.

Pricing and Plans

At $65, a single consultation is pretty expensive. However, both the six-month and annual subscription plans offer great value for money.

They’re priced at $90 and $135 respectively and afford unlimited access to owners, accompanied by prescription services in selected states (NJ and NY).

Pros

• Affordable Six-Month and Yearly Plans
• Subscription Service Available in Selected States
• User-Friendly Mobile App

Cons

• No Emergency Fund
• One-Off Consultations Expensive

Our Take

While FirstBet offers an online vet prescription service, the service is limited.

The online vet consultation service is also pretty expensive for one-off sessions.

Happily, the six-month and yearly subscription plans more than compensate.

We also liked the app which we found to be very user-friendly.

5. Pet Coach

PetCoach provides pet owners with expert advice, via a forum, FAQs and an online consultation service.

How it Works

Available through its website and a dedicated app, users have access a forum and a comprehensive archive of articles numbering over 1 million.

To arrange one-on-one virtual veterinary consultations, you fill out a form, attach a photo and select the category for which you’d like help.

A broad spectrum of issues can be addressed, most of which are grouped under the categories of health, behavior/training, nutrition and general feline care.

Pricing and Plans

While access to the forums and articles on PetCoach is free, in-depth consultations are $20. It’s also possible to ask a single question for $5.

Both services have response times of 6 and 12 hours respectively. At the time of writing, the platform does not offer membership or subscription-based plans.

PetCoach primarily offers informational resources and non-emergency consultations. As such, it does not offer an emergency fund or a prescription service.

Pros

• Free access to a wealth of information through articles and Q&A forums.
• Ability to schedule one-on-one consultations with licensed vets.
• Covers a broad range of pet health and care topics

Cons

• Not suitable for emergency situations
• No subscription plans
• No emergency fund
• Long response times

Our Take

It’s a shame that there’s no subscription or membership plans to speak of. Response times aren’t all that great either.

All the same, video consultations are reasonably priced and the single question option is going to satisfy plenty of fretting owners.

Supporting its online vet chat service is a wealth of information for concerned owners in the form of articles by licensed veterinarians.

The forum is also a great resource and is populated with subjects about all kind of issues and ailments.

Overall then, a decent online veterinarian consultation service that allows you to talk to a vet online without spending too much cash.

6. Fuzzy Pet Health

Fuzzy Pet Health is an online veterinary service designed to streamline and simplify pet care for the modern cat owner.

Available via App or on the company website, Fuzzy Pet Health provides access to licensed veterinarians around the clock.

How it Works

Before chatting to a professional, you’ll be asked a series of questions in order to provide some background.

These include things such as age, breed and whether your cat has been neutered or spayed

Both the website and app feature very simple interfaces – access to a licensed veterinarian is possible within a few taps.

It’s also possible to get prescriptions after answering questions about your pet’s problem.

At the time of writing, Fuzzy Pet Health doesn’t offer an emergency fund, though.

Pricing and Plans

Fuzzy Pet Health operates on a subscription-based model.

But how much is Fuzzy a month? Although it’s difficult to find any information about pricing on the website, we were able to ascertain that monthly membership packages start at $25.

Pros

• Affordable service
• 24/7 access to veterinary advice
• Prescriptions delivered straight to door
• Discounts for subscribers

Cons

• No emergency fund

Our Take

Fuzzy Pet Health features a highly-accessible virtual vet platform that’s available 24/7.

Monthly membership is competitively priced, although there are cheaper alternatives out there.

But if you factor in the prescription service, it would be fair to say that Fuzzy Pet Health offers slightly better value for money than a lot of its competitors.

7. AskVet

AskVet provides cat owners with easy and immediate access to a network of veterinary professionals 24/7.

It’s a desktop and app-based service offering on-demand telehealth consultations, wellness advice and preventive care guidance.

How it Works

Either login on your desktop computer, or download the app which is available on iPhone and Android.

Tap the 24/7 vet chat button and you’ll be connected with a vet within seconds.

You can also share photos and short videos to help provide a better understanding of your cat’s issue.

Pricing and Plans

AskVet operates on a subscription-based model.

For a fixed monthly fee of $29.99, members get unlimited access to veterinary professionals as well as pet trainers and coaches who’ll help you to address behavioral issues.

A $1000 emergency fund is also available for members.

Pros

• 24/7 access on app and desktops
• Single PetID for Multiple Pets
• 1:1 Pet assessments offered
• Extra advice about nutrition and behavioral issues
• Food discounts available

Cons

• No prescriptions

Our Take

In terms of membership prices, there are certainly more affordable alternatives, although the single PetID and food discounts are welcome perks.

8. AirVet

AirVet connects pet owners with veterinary professionals across the USA on a 24/7 basis.

The platform features a range of services including telehealth vet consultations, follow-up appointments and urgent care consultations around the clock.

How it Works

Merely download the AirVet app do your mobile phone device, create a profile and add your pet.

You’ll then be able to start an on-demand call, arrange a virtual appointment or become an AirVet member.

AirVet allows you to connect with your regular vet.

Provided they’re part of the network, they’ll be able to prescribe medication.

This is because the AVMA rules on the Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (see beginning of article) will have been satisfied.

Pricing and Plans

AirVet features on-demand and membership services. On-demand consultations are $49 while virtual appointments are set by the individual vets.

For those seeking more frequent consultations, the monthly membership plan bundles in unlimited consultations for a monthly fee of $30.

A $3000 emergency fund is provided in the event of a life-threatening emergency – this is included as part of AirVet’s membership.

Pros

• 24/7 availability of veterinary professionals
• Convenient and easy-to-use interface
• %3000 emergency fund
• Prescription Services

Cons

• Per consultation cost expensive
• Cheaper alternatives available

Our Take

The on-demand consultation is about mid-range when it comes to online vet service pricing, although the monthly membership fee is a little expensive.

On a positive note, AirVet includes that $3000 emergency fund – the chance to arrange online veterinary prescriptions is a real plus point too.

9. Hello Ralphie

Hello Ralphie offers scheduled video consultations with licensed veterinarians, allowing owners to discuss issues ranging from wellness and preventative care to behavior and nutrition.

How it Works

Hello Ralphie operates via its website as well as an app.

To use the service, you’ll need to create an account, providing details about your pet.

A video consultation can then be scheduled with a veterinarian that takes place via a secure video link.

The platform is designed to be user-friendly and includes what amounts to a fairly straightforward process for scheduling appointments.

And in contrast to other online vet services mentioned here, Hello Ralphie vets are able to diagnose issues and prescribe medication, depending of course on the state in which you reside.

However, telemedical consultations tend to be more expensive.

Pricing and Plans

Hello Ralphie operates on a pay-per-consultation basis, with prices ranging from $35 to $55.

Discounts are however available when you purchase more than one appointment.

The service is designed primarily for non-emergency consultations and there’s no emergency fund.

The virtual vet service can provide prescriptions when necessary, depending on the specific situation and the veterinarian’s professional judgment.

Pros

• Diagnosis and Prescription Services Available
• Comprehensive Pet Education Library
• Some Pet Insurance Policies Accepted

Cons

• Expensive
• Prescription Appointments More Expensive

Our Take

The pay-per-consultation service isn’t too expensive, provided that your pet’s issue isn’t all that urgent.

We were also enthused by the extensive pet education library and that certain pet insurance policies are accepted.

One of the main selling points here though is the online vet prescription service.

10. Vetster

Vetster connects pet owners with veterinary professionals for online appointments and advice.

The service is available via the website or app.

How it Works

You create an account and provide information about your pet regarding their problem.

It’s then possible to browse through a list of available veterinary professionals whose skills match your pet’s potential issues.

Once a professional is chosen, a virtual pet appointment can be scheduled at a convenient time.

Although the vets can provide advice and guidance on a plethora of issues, they’re only allowed to recommend over-the-counter medication – diagnoses and prescriptions are not permitted.

Pricing and Plans

Vetster operates on a pay-per-consultation basis, with prices varying according to the type of professional (veterinarian or technician) and their individual rate.

Pros

• Access to a wide range of veterinary professionals
• On-Demand Appointments 24/7
• Select Specialist Veterinarian
• Easy navigation and scheduling of appointments

Cons

• No Pricing Structure
• No Emergency Fund
• No Prescriptions

Our Take

Vetster’s marketplace model is unique in the online animal health care sector – being able to choose a specific vet according to your pet’s issue, is extremely useful.

The problem is that the actual vet fees can be expensive.

So this means shopping around until you find one that meets your price expectations – a process that can be rather time-consuming.