The global pandemic has caused tectonic shifts in our everyday lives. From how we work, shop, entertain ourselves and visit loved-ones, the whole nine yards have changed.
We’ve had to rethink everything we do – including how we take our dogs to the vet.
But with the power of technology and the brilliance of the internet, we can now get online vet advice without leaving our homes.
Thanks to Vetster, you can make a virtual vet appointment with all the benefits of visiting a clinic and none of the hassle.
What Online Vet Advice Does Vetster Offer?
Vetster is an on-demand service for dog guardians that offers virtual vet appointments. When you have questions, need preventative care or well-being checkups, Vetster has what you need.
The online vet advice happens via video call, voice call, or text message, where you can connect with a veterinary professional – this is called telemedicine.
During your call, you’ll get professional support for a range of concerns such as…
- Minor cuts or wounds
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and GI issues
- Behavioral concerns or aggression
- General health and wellness concerns
- Dietary concerns and nutritional advice
- Skin issues like itchiness, redness, and rashes
- Wellness and training advice for puppies or kittens
And in situations where necessary, you’ll be able to get easy access to online vets that write prescriptions (but more on that later).
Of course, this kind of consultation does not replace a face-to-face vet visit when you’re facing an emergency.
But for regular issues, a virtual vet appointment with Vetster is an excellent platform for professional support without leaving your home.
Signup for your free Vetster account here!
What is a Virtual Vet Appointment with Vetster?
With Vetster, you have access to over 1800 veterinary professionals across the USA and Canada.
And whether you need to consult with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or a Veterinary Technician, Vetster gives you easy access to a virtual vet appointment via their platform.
You have total freedom of choice to pick the professional that suits your needs based on location, availability, and qualification level.
And soon, you’ll be able to be even more specific in your search with specialties, species, and language choices.
Not only that but the professional that performs the virtual vet appointment must pass stringent background checks and have a valid license to practice.
This means you get the same one-on-one care that you’d get from an in-clinic visit—good news for anxious dogs who hate car rides or in-clinic visits.
It’s also a valuable service for folks at high risk during the pandemic, sheltering in place, or self-quarantining at home due to Covid-19.
Online Vet Consultation and Prescription with Vetster
With Vetster, you can access an online vet consultation and prescription. Prescription writing does have some limitations that you should be aware of through.
If your online vet consultation occurs in a state or province that allows a Virtual Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR), they may prescribe medication for your pet if necessary.
And Vetster makes it super easy to fill these prescriptions without you having to download or print anything.
The prescription details will be sent directly by your online vet to your local human pharmacy or MixLab.
If the medication is available through a human pharmacy, you can provide details of your local pharmacy (including Walmart and Costco) during the consultation.
MixLab is available in several states across the US. And once they receive the prescription, they will contact you directly for payment and delivery details.
How to Make a Virtual Vet Appointment with Vetster
With Vetster, making a virtual vet appointment is quick and easy. In just a few short steps, you’ll be ready to schedule a vet appointment online at a time that suits you.
Check out this short video below to see how fast and straightforward it is to set up an account and book a virtual vet appointment.
Visit Vetser and Signup for Your Free Pet Parent Account today!
Online Vet Advice – What to Expect from Vetster
Vetster is on a quest to bring you online vet advice with quality health care for your pet, affordably, anytime and anywhere.
It’s a noble quest and one that Vetster successfully provides.
How do they do it?
Vetster’s online vet advice comes in two distinct ways.
Online Vet Advice – Vetster Health
The first way is through Vetster Health, where you’ll meet with and get advice from a registered veterinary technician.
The vet techs you’ll have access to are either registered, licensed, or certified ((RVT, LVT, CVT). They are all accredited professionals with a great deal of knowledge. And a minimum of 2 to 3 years of professional education.
The scope of this option is for general health and wellness concerns. A vet tech will be able to support you with general health and wellness such as the following:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Weight management
- Behavioral issues
- Quality of life questions
Vet techs cannot provide a diagnosis or prescription for acute health concerns, so this option is best if you have questions or need guidance on your pet’s well-being.
Join Vetster Today with Your Free Pet Parent Account!
Online Vet Advice – Vetster Medical
Vetster Medical gives you access to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The vets you’ll have access to have all completed extensive post-secondary education, usually around 8 years of study.
The scope of this option is to give personalized care and address specific medical concerns regarding your pet, such as the following.
- Infections
- Toxicity concerns
- Unexplained limping or lameness
- GI issues like diarrhea and vomiting
- Skin issues like rashes, bumps, or itching
- Seasonal issues like bug bites or allergies
Is it Possible to Consult with an Online Vet Who Writes Prescriptions?
This is an excellent question, and as I mentioned earlier, you may be able to get a prescription for your pet.
Depending on the jurisdictions, some vets may be able to provide remote diagnosis and prescriptions. However, not all states allow this.
On Vetster, your search results will point out whether a vet can diagnose and prescribe in your region.
What if Your Dog Requires Blood Tests?
This is one of the first questions that popped into my mind when researching Vetster for this article.
So I reached out to them and got the following reply from Vetster’s Marketplace Co-ordinator, Danielle.
At this time, we are a consultation service only. If a patient requires in-clinic care, the consulting partner would advise them as such, and many times work with them to give them guidance and direction on where and how.
As we move through this year and make headway on our white label product, this type of combined delivery model will become much more feasible.
Triaging and making a plan with a pet owner as to what in-person diagnostics are to be done once on an arranged trip to the clinic after the initial consultation.
It’s great to hear that Vetster is working behind the scenes to develop its services even further!
What Else Does Vetster Have in Store for the Future of Online Vet Advice?
Not only is Vetster planning on expanding how they deliver their service, but Danielle gave us a little scoop into plans to provide vets even more information about their patients!
With the huge boom in wearable & integrative technologies, we are certainly being open-minded for potential future partnerships that may enhance the virtual experience in providing the DVM with physical data.
Signup for Your Free Vetster Pet Parent Account today!
6 Ways to Prepare for Your Virtual Vet Appointment with Vetster
Getting ready for your virtual vet appointment is pretty similar to preparing for an in-clinic appointment. Here are a few pointers to help you get prepared.
- Write down a list of questions you might have for your vet.
- If the appointment is about a specific behavior, like limping, head shaking, or a behavioral issue, it might be useful to pre-record it before the meeting.
- Vetster has a neat option to upload any photos, videos, and medical records to your pet’s profile. I highly recommend doing this before your appointment so the vet can get easy access and better support you.
- Ensure that your wi-fi connection is working correctly and test your computer’s speakers and your headphones. And adjust the room’s lighting.
- Log on to your video call a little earlier to iron out any technical glitches before your consultation starts.
- Be patient and remember that this is a new experience for everyone involved – you, your pet, and the veterinary professional too!
Is Getting Online Vet Advice from Vetster Worth it?
In a single word, yes!
Vetster gives you access to online vet advice from almost 2000 veterinary professionals. And these professionals can be accessed at any time during the day or night with a few clicks.
I love how easy the Vetster platform is to use. And how they are constantly innovating and looking for ways to combine more services to improve the experience for you and your pet.
Along with all of this and their price point makes Vetster a worthwhile platform for on-demand, high-quality online vet advice.
Visit Vetser to Signup for Your Free Pet Parent Account today!
