Thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to speak to a veterinary professional, and with an app like FirstVet, you can have an online consultation with a fully qualified veterinarian without even leaving your home.

What Is FirstVet?

FirstVet is an independent digital veterinary service that provides online video consultations for pet owners looking for advice or support. You can use it in the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, and the service is available 24/7.

While you can use FirstVet on your computer, the service is best used via the FirstVet app which is available for both Android and iPhone.

Download: FirstVet for Android | iOS (Free, payment for consultations may be required)

How Does FirstVet Work?

Before you can start using FirstVet, you’ll need to create an account. To do this, download the app and then register your pet. If you have pet insurance with one FirstVet’s insurance partners, then your video calls with FirstVet are free.

When you need to book an appointment with FirstVet, simply open the app and tap Book a video call.

Next, select the pet you are making an appointment for and then choose whether you would like to speak to a FirstVet veterinarian for health advice or a behaviorist who can discuss things such as barking, dog training methods, or aggression.

On the next screen, you’ll see all of the appointment times that are available and which veterinarian is taking each session. To book a video consultation, select the appointment you want, then describe your pet’s symptoms and attach images if they may help your vet during your consultation.

If you are going to attach images to your notes, try to ensure that they have been taken in a well-lit area using the right camera settings, and provide a couple of different angles.

You’ll receive a text message a couple of minutes before your online consultation is due to start at which point all you need to do is log back into the app to start the call.

Once you’ve spoken with the vet, they’ll send you a follow-up email containing any notes taken during the session and their recommendations. If the online vet feels that your pet needs to be seen in person, then they will forward these notes to your local vet and encourage you to book an in-person appointment.

Can FirstVet Prescribe Medication?

Prescription medication can only be prescribed for your pet if they have been seen in person. This means that FirstVet cannot directly prescribe medication.

Fortunately, most simple cases can be solved without a prescription, but if a FirstVet veterinarian believes that your pet does need a prescription, then they will refer you to your local vet along with a full medical record of the consultation as well as their suggested treatment.

Because FirstVet cannot prescribe medication and is an entirely virtual service, it is best used for minor cases or general advice. In these instances, FirstVet can put your mind at ease or help you to treat your pet at home. If your pet is seriously injured or extremely unwell, then it is best to book an emergency appointment with your local vet right away.

How Much Does FirstVet Cost?

If you have pet insurance with an insurance provider who is a partner of FirstVet, then your video consultations will be 100% free. If you don’t have pet insurance or have it with a non-partner, then all US-based consultations are $35—including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Alternatively, you can sign up for an unlimited FirstVet subscription costing $65 for six months or $90 for a year. A subscription entitles you to unlimited FirstVet video consultations at any time you need.

Getting Health Advice Over the Internet

While digital veterinarian services still have a long way to go before entirely replacing in-person appointments, they fulfill an essential role within the pet care market. Services such as FirstVet make it easier to get professional advice online and help free up local veterinarian services for those who need them for emergency and in-person purposes.

So the next time you’re worried that your dog has eaten something it shouldn’t have, or your kitten has a strange spot on its chin, you may want to give a digital veterinary service a try.