Best Pet Telehealth Services

Pros

• vetster.com/en-us 2026-09-02: 24/7 online vet care; video calls; 48-hour follow-up live messaging; prescriptions through VetsterRx (order online or local pharmacy); available in all states. Named DVMs on the homepage (for example Dr. Damian Levisman, DVM). Homepage also states 20+ species treated. Schema description names cats, dogs, reptiles, horses.
• Official pricing: single appointment starting at $102 one-time (help center 2026-05-27: flat fee of $102 charged at booking). Vetster Plus is $10/month billed annually ($120/year) with 4 same-day video appointments, 50% off additional bookings, unlimited messaging with registered vet techs, free standard shipping on prescriptions (US only), all pets under one Plus plan. Per-appointment covers one pet.
• help.vetster.com VCPR article (updated 2026-07-04): a VCPR is required to diagnose and prescribe; some regions allow a remote VCPR and others require an in-person visit. Official wellness page: online vets are not a replacement for emergency clinics - difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, collapse/seizures, severe pain, suspected poisoning, major trauma, unable to urinate need in-person care. Terms: use is not for emergencies; go to the nearest open veterinary clinic or hospital.

Cons

• Plus is billed annually. Help center: Plus plans are not eligible for refunds; cancel before renewal to stop the next cycle; no prorated unused months. Homepage 'talk to a vet in minutes' is marketing - we did not time waits and did not score unpublished under-5-min claims.
• Pharmacy coordination fees are extra ($7 Plus / $14 non-members per the Plus FAQ). Products are not included in Plus. We did not find a current official controlled-substance statement (unlike Dutch gabapentin-only note).
• A video visit is not a physical exam. Even with a VCPR, the veterinarian decides whether a prescription is appropriate. True emergencies still go to an ER.

Score breakdown

Specs

Hours

24/7 stated on vetster.com/en-us (access expert care 24/7).

Species

20+ species treated (homepage). Dogs, cats, birds, farm animals, horses, reptiles and amphibians, small mammals, fish, other exotics named on city pages.

Rx

Yes, through VetsterRx where VCPR/state rules allow; not in every state/province.

Visit Format

Video; 48-hour follow-up live messaging; Plus also unlimited messaging with registered vet techs.

Membership

Optional Vetster Plus $120/year ($10/mo billed annually) or pay per appointment.

Cancel

Cancel Plus any time before renewal; no refund of the current annual term (help center). Appointment cancelation can yield credit or refund per Vetster policy.

Msrp

$102 visit; Plus $120/year as listed 2026-09-02

Score Notes

quality 10 = US PDP + named DVM + video + VetsterRx + species. safety 8 = ER + VCPR + 24/7 (no CS statement). ease 10 = web/app + same-day/24/7 + pharmacy path + per-visit. value 10 = listed USD + named visit/membership + per-visit path + cancel terms.

Pros

• firstvet.com/us/services-and-pricing 2026-09-02: teletriage video consults with an experienced veterinarian, any time of day or night; 15-minute consult; advice on managing at home or seeing the regular veterinarian. Explicit: FirstVet cannot legally diagnose, treat, or prescribe medication - those tasks must be performed in person with the regular veterinarian.
• Published USD: 6-month subscription $90 (unlimited access, open 365 days, cancel anytime); annual $135 billed annually; single consultation $65, no registration fee. about-us: 24/7, 365 days; dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small pets; licensed vets 24 hours a day. FAQ: vets licensed to practice in the US and a minimum of five years of clinical experience; cancel a video call up to 60 minutes before; records can be emailed to a local clinic or emergency hospital.
• FAQ names referral to a local veterinary clinic or emergency hospital. Nationwide members use FirstVet via VetHelpline - we rank the consumer FirstVet page here, not the insurance add-on.

Cons

• The dedicated pricing page says FirstVet cannot legally diagnose, treat, or prescribe. The U.S. FAQ also says the service is a resource for everyday questions as well as prescriptions (depending on your state), and a benefit-hub page markets a prescription service. We score the cannot-prescribe line on the current services-and-pricing page. Do not assume an Rx from a FirstVet video.
• No individual DVM is named on the about-us or pricing pages we used (quality named-DVM points are zero). Consults are 15 minutes. Book-within-minutes on about-us is marketing, not a timed SLA.
• A chat or video is not a physical exam. Accidental poisoning and injuries are listed as topics they help you manage - that is still not an ER. Go to an emergency hospital when the pet is crashing.

Score breakdown

Specs

Hours

24/7, 365 days (about-us / pricing).

Species

Dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small pets (about-us).

Rx

Pricing page: cannot legally diagnose, treat, or prescribe. FAQ mentions prescriptions depending on your state - treat as conflicting; we do not claim Rx.

Visit Format

15-minute video; app also describes instant chat then scheduled video.

Membership

Optional: $90 / 6 months or $135 / year, or $65 per consult.

Cancel

6-month plan: cancel anytime (pricing). Video call: cancel up to 60 minutes before (FAQ).

Msrp

$65 single consult as listed 2026-09-02

Score Notes

quality 8 = US PDP + no named DVM + video + explicit cannot-prescribe + species. safety 10 = ER/hospital referral + cannot diagnose/prescribe + 24/7 + same cannot-prescribe honesty. ease 10 = app + 24/7/15 min + clinic records + per-visit. value 10 = listed USD + named visit + per-visit + cancel terms.

Pros

• chewy.com Connect with a Vet virtual-visit page 2026-09-02: $49.99 per video call with a licensed veterinarian. Available only in California, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Hours 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. ET, 365 days. Visits last up to 15 minutes. Same-day appointments are usually available. The pet must be visible on camera (required by law, per Chewy). Named vets on the page (Dr. Sonja C., Dr. Erin B., Dr. Brett C., Dr. Tara H.) with years of experience listed.
• Chewy states online vets can prescribe for cats and dogs based on professional judgment and prescribing regulations, with fill through Chewy Pharmacy. One pet per visit. Cancel or reschedule at least 10 minutes before to avoid the $49.99 fee. Invoices in Order History for possible pet-insurance reimbursement (Chewy does not accept insurance as payment).
• Nationwide free live chat with a licensed vet tech (cannot prescribe, diagnose, or treat) daily 6 a.m. to midnight ET with a free Chewy account. Official ER list: severe trouble breathing, excessive bleeding, uncontrolled seizures, or toxins - take the pet to a vet or the nearest emergency clinic right away. Vaccines, diagnostic tests, and lab work still need in-person care.

Cons

• Video with a prescribing vet is only seven states. Everywhere else you get free tech chat, which Chewy says cannot prescribe or diagnose. Hours are 8 a.m.-3 a.m. ET, not 24/7.
• No current official controlled-substance statement on this page. Late or missed visits are charged $49.99. Prescriptions and recommended products are extra.
• A 15-minute video is not a physical exam. Chewy is a retailer; this row scores their telehealth product, not the store catalog.

Score breakdown

Specs

Hours

Licensed-vet video: 8 a.m.-3 a.m. ET, 365 days. Vet-tech chat: 6 a.m.-midnight ET.

Species

Dogs and cats (virtual visits).

Rx

Yes, in the seven video states, at the vet discretion; fill via Chewy Pharmacy. Tech chat cannot prescribe.

Visit Format

Scheduled video up to 15 minutes (7 states). Free live chat with a licensed vet tech in other states.

Membership

Per-visit $49.99. No membership required for the video fee. Free Chewy account for tech chat.

Cancel

Cancel or reschedule at least 10 minutes before or the $49.99 fee is charged. More than 3 minutes late is charged.

Msrp

$49.99 virtual visit as listed 2026-09-02

Score Notes

quality 10 = US PDP + named DVM + video + Chewy Pharmacy Rx + dogs/cats. safety 7 = ER + state/camera law + hours not 24/7 (+1) + no CS statement. ease 10 = web + published hours/same-day + pharmacy/insurance invoice + per-visit. value 10 = listed USD + visit fee + no annual lock + cancel terms.

Pros

• dutch.com 2026-09-02: 24/7 online vet care for dogs and cats; unlimited vet calls and messaging; up to 5 pets; $11/mo billed $132 yearly. 10-minute video call with a licensed veterinarian. Named DVMs on the homepage (Dr. Wrenn, DVM; Dr. Mori Afraz, DVM; Dr. Radillo, DVM; Dr. Chestnut, DVM) and CMO Dr. Kate Elden. 100% US-licensed vets and no vet techs or nurses (homepage). Same-day video consults in most states, including evenings and weekends.
• Official Rx: vets can prescribe after a video consult that establishes the required VCPR; shipped in most U.S. states; state licensing and federal telehealth rules apply. Careers/vets page: currently only gabapentin among controlled substances; all other controlled substances are not permitted on the platform. Dogs and cats only. Membership page: pay total upfront or in 4 installments; medication is extra; price-match and free standard shipping named.
• help.dutch.com What if Dutch cannot treat my pet: go directly to the ER for listed signs (unresponsiveness, seizures, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, severe trauma, bloat, urinary blockage especially male cats, labored breathing, extreme pain). Homepage: emergencies, wounds that need stitches, blood work, imaging, and surgery require in-person care. Itemized invoices for insurance reimbursement are described.

Cons

• Annual membership is the product. Help center: no refunds for memberships. There is no official per-visit price on dutch.com. Treats 90% of health conditions is Dutch marketing, not our score.
• Vets page: general advice nationally and Rx treatment consultations in 34 states and counting (careers copy). Do not assume every ZIP gets the same Rx. 10-minute calls are short; follow-ups are messaging or another booked call.
• A video is not a physical exam. Dutch is not pet insurance. Controlled drugs other than gabapentin are out, per Dutch.

Score breakdown

Specs

Hours

24/7 stated on dutch.com homepage; same-day, nights and weekends named.

Species

Dogs and cats only.

Rx

Yes in most states after a video VCPR; pharmacy partner ships. Controlled: gabapentin only, per dutch.com/pages/vets.

Visit Format

10-minute video (Zoom, per vets page); messaging follow-ups.

Membership

Required annual: $132/year ($11/mo billed yearly) as listed 2026-09-02. Up to 5 pets.

Cancel

No membership refunds (help center). Sales described as final on Dutch terms summarized in help.

Msrp

$132/year as listed 2026-09-02

Score Notes

quality 10 = US PDP + named DVM + video + Rx/pharmacy + dogs/cats. safety 10 = ER list + VCPR/state + 24/7 + gabapentin-only CS. ease 8 = web + same-day hours + insurance invoice/pharmacy minus annual-lock-only. value 8 = listed USD + named membership minus required annual + published no-refund terms.

Pros

• pawp.com 2026-09-02: 24/7 team of veterinary doctors and nurses; unlimited on-demand visits; video, message, or call; guided ongoing care plans; risk-free cancellation at any time. Help center (updated 2026-04-10 / 2026-07-16): annual membership; unlimited 24/7 access; optional Emergency Protection reimburses up to $3,000/year for one pet emergency per year (that add-on is not pet insurance and is not this ranking insurance list).
• help.pawp.com Rx pages (2026-04-17): prescription visits are a separate service for account holders in eligible states, starting at $35, pricing varies by membership status; meds not included; vets must be licensed in your state; a visit does not guarantee a prescription. Existing clinic prescriptions can be filled through the Pawp app after verification.
• pawp.com cat-vet explainer: if you believe the cat is in danger, take it to a vet clinic immediately; online services are teleadvice and triage if you are unsure. Chase-help article on Pawp own help center names dogs and cats for unlimited virtual visits.

Cons

• pawp.com and the current base-membership help article do not publish a membership USD. We do not copy $99/year or $24/month from review sites. Value named-USD points are zero. price_label is See pawp.com.
• Homepage does not name an individual DVM (quality named-DVM points are zero). On-demand visits are with veterinary doctors and nurses, not DVM-only. Prescription visits are scheduled, not on-demand, not in all states, and have no refunds if you cancel the visit.
• Optional Emergency Protection is not an ER and is not a full insurance policy. A chat is not a physical exam. Instant-care marketing is not a timed wait study.

Score breakdown

Specs

Hours

24/7 stated on pawp.com and help center.

Species

Dogs and cats named on Pawp help (Chase membership article). Homepage says pets.

Rx

Separate prescription visits in eligible states from $35; not all states. Meds extra.

Visit Format

On-demand text and video for membership questions; 10-minute scheduled Rx visit in the app.

Membership

Annual membership required for the 24/7 clinic. USD not listed on pawp.com 2026-09-02.

Cancel

Homepage: risk-free cancellation at anytime. Rx visits: no refunds for cancellations.

Msrp

Membership not listed on pawp.com 2026-09-02; Rx visits from $35 (help center)

Score Notes

quality 8 = US PDP + no named DVM + video + Rx named + dogs/cats. safety 8 = clinic-immediately ER line + state/Rx eligibility + 24/7 + no CS statement. ease 10 = app + 24/7 on-demand + clinic fill path + cancel-anytime. value 3 = no named membership USD + annual lock + published cancel language.