Veterinary telehealth service Vetster has officially launched into the UK following two years of successful growth in North America.
The on-demand service offers pet owners online appointments 24/7 with licensed UK vets via video, voice and online chat to address non-urgent pet care issues such as dermatology, gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary tract, ophthalmology and musculoskeletal issues.
The platform, which has been operating in the US and Canada for more than two years and claims to be world’s fastest growing veterinary telehealth service, recently secured $30m worth of funding to support expansion into new markets. Since launch, veterinarians using the platform to deliver virtual care services have treated more than 20 common pet health concerns with 97% of appointments resulting in a positive outcome for the pet and pet owner, the company claims.
Online veterinary services are seen by many as a solution to the growing pressure on clinics. A study of 150 vets in March 2022 commissioned by Vetster found that the biggest challenge UK veterinary clinics faced was the volume of pets (57%), followed by being overbooked (50%) and unable to take on new patients.
Mark Bordo, chief executive and co-founder of Vetster, said: “We are experiencing a global crisis in pet care exacerbated by the pandemic and veterinarians are facing tremendous pressure to provide services to millions of pet owners.
“Vetster’s virtual care platform connects pet owners with licensed UK veterinarians to provide support when their clinic is closed, to answer a non-urgent question, and to improve the health outcomes of their pet and help ensure owners can care for their animals.”
