FirstVet Reviews

The worst part of owning a pet is not being able to ask them what they are up to. We can generally tell when anything is wrong with our pets, although it isn’t always obvious. This implies a lot of pricey vet trips if you’re nervous like me. Veterinary telemedicine services are an excellent approach to addressing issues that may not require an emergency visit. You should attempt a virtual vet visit if you’ve ever gone down a Google rabbit hole to determine if your pet’s activities are normal.

If you ask any cat or dog owner their biggest expenditure, they will probably say vet bills. Then there’s the problem of transporting the animal to the veterinarian. Manhandling a huge dog into a car’s boot is difficult, and as anybody who has attempted to take a cat to the vet knows, cats are skilled at fleeing Houdini-style at the sight of a basket.

Veterinary telemedicine allows you to communicate with a veterinarian by text, phone, or video chat to obtain real-time guidance on what to do for your pet. It’s not a substitute for regular office visits, and most telemedicine veterinarians can’t diagnose or prescribe drugs for pets they haven’t seen in person, but they may offer valuable information.

The coronavirus pandemic increased the importance of these teleservices, and we believe the attraction will endure long after the epidemic has passed. Here’s what we recommend after testing a few of these services. So today, we will make your lives easy by reviewing one digital vet consultation: FirstVet. Let us dig into the review.

FirstVet: Online Vet Service for Pets

Pet services might be a lucrative new venture. Consider companies like Rover and Wag, which provide dog walking services. At the same time, given consistent demand and technology’s disruptive potential, digital health is a hot topic among entrepreneurs.

Sweden’s FirstVet is dabbling in both, providing remote video consultations and guidance to pet owners worried about their recent bout of coughing, sneezing, or vomiting or whether the chocolate bar the dog snarfed while you weren’t looking is a cause for serious concern.

As the name implies, FirstVet wants to carve out a place by focusing on first-layer pet owner issues, which comes down to asking a certified expert whether you need to take Fido to the vet. As a result, Google search is most likely its biggest competition.

What is the Process of FirstVet?

You must register an account before you can use FirstVet. To get started, download the app and register your pet. Your video conversations with FirstVet are free if you have pet insurance with one of FirstVet’s insurance partners.

Launch the app and hit Book a video call when you need to schedule an appointment with FirstVet.

After that, choose whether you want to meet with a FirstVet veterinarian for health advice or a behaviorist to discuss barking, dog training methods, or aggressiveness.

You’ll see the available appointment times and which veterinarian handles each one on the next screen. To schedule a video consultation, choose an appointment, describe your pet’s symptoms, and upload any photographs that may aid your veterinarian during the session. If you’re going to include photographs in your notes, make sure they were taken in a well-lit environment with the proper camera settings and various perspectives.

You’ll get a text message a few minutes before your online consultation begins, and all you have to do is log back into the app to begin the conversation.

After you’ve spoken with the vet, they’ll give you a follow-up email with notes they took during the consultation and their suggestions. If the online veterinarian believes your pet needs to be seen in person, they will forward these remarks to your local veterinarian and encourage you to schedule an appointment.

Can FirstVet write a prescription?

Only after your pet has been seen in person may prescription medicine be given to them. As a result, FirstVet is unable to prescribe medicine directly.

Most minor situations may be resolved without a prescription. Still, suppose a FirstVet veterinarian deems your pet requires a prescription. In that case, they will direct you to your local veterinarian along with a comprehensive medical record of the consultation and their recommended therapy.

FirstVet is best utilized for mild problems or basic guidance because it cannot prescribe medicine and is a virtual service. In these situations, FirstVet can alleviate your mind or assist you in treating your pet at home.

Details of FirstVet Features

Next, in our FirstVet review, we will talk about its features.

To date, 65 percent of pet parent problems have been resolved by FirstVet veterinarians from the comfort of their own homes. This indicates that choosing a virtual care service can save around 2/3 of your in-person veterinarian appointments.

The following are some of the subjects handled by FirstVet experts:

Ask your veterinarian about your kitten’s vaccinations, deworming, and planned spay. Do you have questions regarding pet nutrition, behavior, or travel? FirstVet can also assist you with this.

The knowledgeable veterinarians at FirstVet can help you determine if your pet can be safely cared for at home or whether they need to see a physical veterinarian. Are you unsure if it’s an emergency or something that can wait? Your FirstVet veterinarian can help you make that selection.

Discuss your worries regarding your pet’s post-surgery recovery and how to check for symptoms of discomfort or infection, and how to care for wounds. Do you have concerns about a planned operation or treatment? FirstVet veterinarians can explain testing and treatments to you, so you feel educated and empowered to participate in your pet’s wellness.

You may get professional assistance without bringing your elderly pet into a clinic with virtual care services. Instead, inquire with knowledgeable veterinarians from the comfort of your own home. FirstVet can answer all your challenging concerns about the quality of life and end-of-life planning.

If your FirstVet vet suggests that your pet see their regular vet or an ER vet, you’ll feel prepared rather than overwhelmed when you arrive for their appointment. Likewise, if your pet needs medication or more tests, you’ll already be aware of the reasons for the suggestions!

The following are some of the more prevalent problems that FirstVet frequently advises petGuard clients on:

Alternatives to FirstVet

The top alternatives that are available in the market to FirstVet are listed down below:

Dutch

Best for: Chronic illness treatment; frequent video talks

Available over the web for $19 per month

Dutch is one of the first telemedicine programs we’ve encountered that can assist you in getting prescription drugs for your pet. Dutch links you with Dutch-affiliated but independent veterinary dermatologists and behavioralists to treat allergies and anxiety and provide regular tele-triaging and advice. Unfortunately, this method cannot identify anything that requires blood testing or other lab procedures or physically touching something like a tumor.

Suppose you reside in a state where VCPRs are legal (a list is available on the site’s FAQ). You may obtain a treatment plan in as little as 48 hours, including prescription drugs, training, and behavioral exercises. Although the firm recommends seeing a regular veterinarian in person, some things pets require can only be given, like blood testing and immunizations.

PetDesk Overview

PetDesk is a unique telemedicine app. It allows you to communicate with your pet’s veterinarian through video chat and keep track of your pet’s meds, appointments, and other requirements.

All your pet’s information, including names and contact information for veterinarians, preferred emergency animal hospitals, and groomers, is in one place. In addition, you can check what’s open, make calls, access relevant websites, and, in certain situations, arrange an appointment or start a video call immediately from the app’s homepage.

You may keep health data and medicines when you establish a pet profile. For example, you may set reminders for giving your pet medication, refilling food and supplies, scheduling checks under the To-Do tab, and requesting birthday alerts. While virtual sessions need an in-network veterinarian, you may use the program as a free medical dashboard for your pet’s information.

Try one of these services if you haven’t discovered something that appeals to you.

Consult a veterinarian

Once you join up for Just Answer using the website’s chat option, you’ll be connected to a veterinarian. Afterward, you may talk via web browser, email, or text. It costs $31 per month and an additional $28 to call.

Whisker Docs is pricy at $40 for an instant call or chat, but you can get limitless help for $17 per month. An email costs $5 if you don’t have a pressing question.

Fuzzy Health, like Whisker Docs, charges $25 per month for a membership. It offers the same speedy and friendly 24/7 chat service, but I didn’t appreciate how product-heavy it is—it suggests goods via a pet health survey without requiring you to talk with a veterinarian. Whether you utilize Fuzzy Health, check with your local veterinarian to see if their products are right for your pet. This is true of any veterinary telemedicine service.

Each appointment with Bond Vet, VetTriage, or Vetster costs $50. (In most cases, Vetster’s $30 veterinary technician option is generally preferable.) That’s about the same as a normal office visit.

FirstVet Review Conclusions

In conclusion, this app is a must-have for all pet owners. It can truly revolutionize the way one takes care of pets.

What can FirstVet do for me?

FirstVet makes it simple to connect with a licensed veterinarian through their smartphone app almost quickly. The answering licensed veterinarians’ profound knowledge and ability (averaging 14 years of clinical experience) handle roughly 65 percent of cases virtually without the need to bring the pet into a clinic.

A trip to the veterinarian may be necessary during transit in exceptional situations. FirstVet can immediately refer to a nearby emergency animal clinic for further pet treatment.

To summarize our FirstPet review, it gives extra peace of mind. Long-distance travel is exhausting for both pets and people, and knowing that a licensed veterinarian will be there for the voyage may help everyone relax.