The 10 most popular vet apps for your pet (Update 2024)

Pet apps have become all too familiar to modern pet owners. As more people seek virtual pet care services, we have seen a surge in the development of vet apps to meet the growing needs.

Vet apps can offer telehealth services for pets, and some are designed to improve communication between vets and their clients. While they can’t completely replace in-person vet appointments and annual checkups, they still offer significant benefits for many cat owners. Our list of the most popular vet apps will help you understand what types of apps are currently available and whether they’ll be useful to you.

How are vet apps classified?

There are different types of vet apps for different purposes. The most common types of vet apps provide teletriage services, telemedicine services, and veterinary clinic operations software.

Teletriage apps typically connect you with a veterinary professional, such as a veterinarian or veterinary technician, and they can answer general health questions about your cat. They can’t diagnose or prescribe medication, but they can tell you if your cat needs immediate veterinary care or if you can wait until the next day to see your vet. They also provide information on how to care for your cat until your next appointment.

Telemedicine apps offer more thorough care for cats. While they can’t completely replace in-person appointments and annual checkups, they can connect you with a veterinarian who can check your cat’s condition. Some telemedicine apps allow veterinarians to diagnose and prescribe medication for your cat. However, these services vary by app and depend on the laws of each state. Therefore, not all telemedicine apps guarantee that a veterinarian can provide a diagnosis via telecommunication.

Finally, veterinary clinics can use an app or software that makes practice operations more seamless. These apps typically allow users to book or reschedule appointments, request medical records, and communicate with an on-call veterinarian in the event of an after-hours emergency.

The 10 most popular veterinary apps

1. PetDesk

PetDesk is a veterinary app designed to make communication between vets and their clients much easier and smoother. Once clients are entered into the system, they can book appointments, fill out forms, and make payments. The app can also send automatic appointment reminders and health check notifications.

Veterinary clinics can benefit from PetDesk’s digital marketing and custom loyalty program features as they can help attract new clients, retain existing clients, and increase repeat visits. The app also has a two-way texting feature that allows clients to communicate with on-call veterinarians to ask appointment tracking questions and quick health-related inquiries.

2. PetsApp

PetsApp enables veterinarians and their existing clients to provide teletriage and appointment booking services. Clients of veterinarians who use PetsApp can schedule appointments and pay medical bills through the app. The app can also send reminders for appointments and health goals.

PetsApp allows customers to communicate with their veterinary practice via text or video call. You can send pictures and videos of your cat, and your vet can determine the best course of action for caring for your cat or whether you need to bring them into the clinic.

3. Airvet

Airvet is a pet teletriage company that has served over 200,000 pet owners and whose app and software are used by thousands of veterinarians. While any pet owner benefits from using a pet teletriage service, this app is especially useful for cat owners of older cats with chronic health issues as it allows unlimited use for its members.

The app requires a $35 monthly subscription. Member subscriptions allow 24/7 access to pet teletriage services with one of Airvet’s registered veterinarians and can expect quick, real-time responses via text message, phone, or video call. There is also no limit to how often you can contact and engage with a veterinarian.

4. Paw

Pawp is another popular pet teletriage app that offers 24/7 on-demand support to its subscribers. The subscription fee is $19 per month and allows unlimited communication with Pawp’s network of veterinarians. Cat owners can connect with a veterinarian and ask questions about sudden illnesses, behavioral changes, and breed-specific health and wellness. There are also no additional fees for follow-up appointments and communication.

Another benefit of Pawp is that it offers a one-month free trial. Pawp also has an Emergency Fund, an optional add-on that provides up to $3,000 in financial assistance for life-threatening medical emergencies.

5. Otto: The app for your pet

Otto is a software and app designed to make managing and running veterinary clinics much easier and less stressful. Key features include sending automated messages and forms so that clients have all the required intake forms completed before their appointment. Otto also allows clients to book appointments online at any time, so they are not limited to making and confirming appointments during clinic opening hours.

Additional services offered by Otto include seamless payment systems and post-appointment care options. Veterinary clinics can also opt for Otto’s 24/7 teletriage service, which connects clients with a veterinarian outside of business hours.

6. First veterinarian

FirstVet is a handy app for any accidents or illnesses your cat may have at home. Unlike many other pet teletriage apps, FirstVet does not require a monthly subscription for users to use it. Once you download the app and register your pet, you can make payments for individual sessions. Of course, you get discounted rates if you choose to subscribe, and these plans offer unlimited consultations.

7. PetCoach by Petco

PetCoach is an app that provides general pet health tips. It’s completely free and you can ask veterinarians questions without having to pay anything. The only downside is that it may take some time to get a response, so this is not a recommended option if you are in an emergency.

One of the key features of PetCoach is its extensive article database. It contains over 1 million vet-reviewed articles on all sorts of health and wellness questions for different types of pets. So if you’re waiting for an answer to a question you submitted, you can check PetCoach’s database to see if there’s a related article.

8. Dr. Tail

Dr.Tail is a pet teletriage app that connects its users with veterinarians in 30 minutes or less. Veterinarians can answer general health questions and provide you with care advice if you’re concerned about your cat’s health. Similar to PetCoach, Dr. Tail has a database of previously asked questions that its users can read through if they want more information about a specific health issue.

This app requires a monthly subscription but offers a free one-month trial, so you have plenty of time to try it out before committing to a paid subscription.

9. Vetster: Veterinarians online 24/7

Vetster offers on-demand virtual vet appointments. Vetster allows you to communicate with a veterinarian 24/7 via live chat or video call. Veterinarians can determine if your cat’s condition is urgent or non-urgent and help you avoid unnecessary emergency room visits. They can also answer questions about cat behavior and diet. In some states, licensed veterinarians are allowed to prescribe medications through the Vetster app.

10. Ask the vet

AskVet uses data and AI to help veterinarians provide 24/7 teletriage services to their clients. It can also help veterinary clinics run more smoothly by scheduling appointments with clients, sending forms and documents, and creating follow-up instructions.

AskVet is also for pet owners. Once you sign up for the monthly subscription, you will have 24/7 access to licensed veterinarians and the ability to ask questions about your pets’ health and behavior. AskVet also offers one-on-one consultations and coaching on your pets’ well-being.

Diploma

Veterinarian apps are designed to give you peace of mind and help you keep an eye on your cat’s health between annual checkups. They can help you avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and get faster answers at any time of day. If your vet uses an app for their practice, you can enjoy more convenient and efficient care.

Of course, vet apps are still relatively new and there is still a lot of room for improvement. We need to continue to monitor technological advancements and see how vet apps will continue to support cat owners.

Photo credit: Scharfsinn, Shutterstock