Dutch Online Vet Review 2026: Our Expert’s Opinion

Having a dog has never been more expensive. That’s especially true if you want to give your dog the best care possible, with the most nutritious food, the best toys, those advanced supplements, and, oh right, vet care.

The average cost of vet services jumped 7.8% from this time last year—well beyond the rate of inflation.¹ The average checkup appointment went from $148 to around $200 between 2024 and 2025², and when you add vaccines, bloodwork, and any necessary medications to that bill, you may just need to take out a small loan.

And that’s just for an annual checkup. What happens when your dog eats a bag of chocolate chips? Or wakes up with a weird, gooey eye? Or won’t stop scratching? If you’re like most modern dog owners, you start to weigh the cost of a vet visit with the likelihood that a vet’s help is actually needed. That’s a tough call to make, and a wrong decision can have serious consequences.

It’s these exact situations where Dutch vet care brings something unique and—for most—incredibly valuable. This virtual vet service has a surprisingly affordable annual membership that allows unlimited virtual visits with a real, US-licensed vet and prescription access (in most states). In other words, it takes the debate out of those “Is a vet necessary?” moments.

I had a chance to try Dutch with the help of my senior dog, Ragz. Keep reading to find out what sets this apart from the other virtual vet services I’ve tried, and which owners it is best suited for.

Here’s the Issue with Most Virtual Vet Care Services

Virtual vet care has become widely accepted in recent years, and, as the cost of traditional vet services skyrockets, is increasingly popular as a go-to option for worried pet owners. The trick these days isn’t finding a service, but finding the right service with the features that actually make a difference for your pet’s care and your finances.

Chewy, for instance, offers free “vet chats” to anyone. But those chats are actually with a vet tech, which means that if your pet needs more advanced care advice, prescriptions, or something more specific, you have to schedule a follow-up with a real vet (which will cost you). These days, you also need to navigate through services that are AI-based, not knowing if your concerns are being addressed by a real human being or the cumulative knowledge of the internet.

Other virtual vet services offer low-cost, pay-by-appointment options with qualified vets, but many of these can’t prescribe medications. For that, you’d need to follow up with your local vet, which means paying for the appointment you were trying to avoid in the first place, on top of the fee you’ve just paid for a virtual consultation. Many services that are able to prescribe medication charge extra for those kinds of appointments.

Some plans offer subscription-based services where you pay up front for a certain number of visits per year, but these are often very limited in quantity and do not accommodate multi-pet households.

What Is Dutch and How Is It Different?

Dutch takes a fresh approach to virtual vet care. Unlimited access to vet advice from real vets who can prescribe medications and schedule follow-ups to save you real money—all for a very affordable price.

Currently, a membership plan with Dutch costs around the same as a traditional veterinary consultation (depending on your location), and includes unlimited video vet visits for up to five different pets for a full year. That’s one fee, unlimited video consults, for up to 5 pets. 

The tradeoff here is that each video visit is only 10 minutes long. But with unlimited follow-ups, you can always schedule another appointment if you have more questions. Plus, the vet can prescribe medication if needed. You can also message the vet you saw if you have additional questions or if anything comes up after the appointment. Through this same message feature, you will receive post-visit notes, treatment instructions, and links to helpful resources.

A quick note: The ability to get prescriptions through virtual appointments varies by state. Your pet also has to have been seen by your local, in-person vet sometime in the last twelve months to qualify, in many cases. While this service can’t fully replace your local vet, it can, in many cases, reduce your annual vet bill substantially.

Who Is Dutch Best Suited For?

Dutch offers vet services for both dogs and cats of all ages.

It is an especially good option for pets with chronic conditions that may bring up frequent questions or a frequent need for follow-up visits. Senior dogs that are more likely to suffer from ongoing medical issues, dogs with allergies, and dogs that just seem to get themselves into trouble more often than normal would all be good candidates for a Dutch membership.

Even more so, I see Dutch being a great option for anxious owners, especially those without a lot of extra funds to throw around. With their membership, you get same-day appointments and 24/7 messaging to take the worry and the financial sting out of surprise medical issues. If you often find yourself with nagging doggy health questions or issues you think might be worth a vet visit but probably aren’t worth $200, then this service is worth it for the peace of mind alone.

Dutch Product Specs (the boring bits) 

What’s Included in the Membership

For less than what it would cost you to take one dog in for a checkup at the average brick-and-mortar vet, with Dutch, you’ll get:

• Unlimited vet calls and messaging

• Custom treatment plans

• Prescription medications (in most states)

• Same-day vet video calls

• Coverage for up to 5 pets

• 20% off flea and tick meds

• $25 off your first product

How the Appointments Work

Once you’ve registered your pets, making a video appointment is simple. You log into your account, choose which pet needs to be seen, then select a date and time.

You’ll fill out a short questionnaire about the purpose of the appointment, and then hit confirm.

From there, you’ll receive confirmation emails and texts, and if your pet is new to the platform, you’ll also need to fill out some additional history questions before the appointment. 

When it’s time for the appointment, just click the Zoom link (found on your dashboard, in the emails, and in the texts) to connect with your vet via video call.

Each appointment is ten minutes long and requires your pet to be in the room with you so the vet can see them (this is a legal requirement to dispense prescriptions).

Afterward, you’ll get a message with an appointment summary, any resources that might be helpful, and a treatment plan.

How the Prescriptions Work

If a Dutch veterinarian determines that your pet needs medication, they can prescribe it as part of the virtual visit, provided state laws allow veterinary prescriptions to be issued through telemedicine.

You can choose to have eligible medications shipped to you through Dutch’s pharmacy or have the prescription sent to a pharmacy of your choice. Dutch also offers prescription refills when appropriate.

But keep in mind that not every condition can be diagnosed or treated virtually, and some states require an in-person veterinary relationship before a veterinarian can prescribe certain medications. Dutch will let you know when an in-person visit is necessary. 

Comparison

Our Experience with Dutch

I enlisted the help of Ragz, my 15-year-old Dalmatian mix, to test this service. To make sure I got the full sense of what Dutch has to offer and what the average experience is like, I made multiple appointments with her with different vets for the same issue. I even made an appointment for my cat, knowing that his issue needed medication to treat, which allowed me to explore Dutch’s prescription offerings.

My first experience with this service was less than stellar. The doctor joined the call 7 minutes late, then proceeded to talk very quickly through the issue I had outlined in my pre-appointment questionnaire with few opportunities for me to ask questions. She wrapped the call up in 3 minutes flat, ending it exactly when it was scheduled to end despite it starting late.

Now, in that doctor’s defense, Dutch’s confirmation and appointment reminder process is so busy that I may have missed something along the way. I received multiple emails (from Dutch and from another address that handles the calendar piece) and texts (from three different numbers?) between when I scheduled the appointment and when it started.

Despite the onslaught of emails and texts, and poor first experience, I was not dissuaded. Why? Because this service is so generously priced that even a bad experience can’t take away from the potential. Besides, you can always get a redo. And that’s exactly what I did.

I scheduled another appointment for the same issue with a different doctor. This one was much more personable and empathetic. She was also more willing to talk to me about my concerns and develop a treatment plan that respected them.

The doctor I worked with for my cat Makoa’s appointment was also really great. We talked through my concerns about my local vet’s approach to his chronic eye infections and discussed a new medication and treatment plan that will hopefully bring him longer-lasting relief between flare-ups.

The prescription information came right to my dashboard, and I was able to get it ordered the same day. We already have a follow-up set to discuss how this medication is working and the best way forward after this initial treatment—all at no extra cost.

That is the true beauty of this membership!

Not only does it allow you to stop debating whether issues are worth talking to a vet about, but once you get a treatment plan for those issues, you can follow up with the vet as often as needed without paying an extra dime. Whether through messaging or video call, you can get every one of your concerns addressed and never have to debate your pet's care against your wallet again. That is serious peace of mind.

Overall, I have been very happy with this service and have no doubt that I will utilize it many more times this year. And that says more than anything. Because where I live, vet care has become so expensive that I go out of my way to avoid in-person appointments whenever possible. Even when I do bite the bullet and schedule an appointment, I often have to wait weeks for an open slot.

Dutch not only helps me save money, time, and stress, but it actually helps safeguard my dogs’ health by removing these common barriers to care. That alone makes it worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Dutch a replacement for my regular veterinarian?

No. Dutch is designed to complement, not replace, your pet’s primary veterinarian. Online vets can address many common conditions, answer questions, recommend treatments, and, when legally permitted, prescribe medications. However, pets still need in-person care for emergencies, physical examinations, diagnostic testing, surgery, vaccinations, and other services that require hands-on care.

Vets cannot listen to your pet’s heart and lungs, feel their belly or any lumps, check blood pressure, or take blood samples in a video consultation. This is why it is important to still have at least one physical examination with a vet each year, even if your pet is healthy.

What conditions can Dutch vets treat virtually?

According to the website, Dutch can provide care and prescriptions for over 150 conditions and treat 90% of cases that come their way without deferring to a local vet. They are an especially good option for non-emergent medical issues, chronic conditions that do not require bloodwork, preventatives, and allergies. They even offer some at-home test kits for urine and stool workups.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever lost sleep over your dog’s health because you can’t decide if something is worth the financial hit of a trip to the vet, then Dutch is for you. Their incredibly well-priced virtual vet membership gives you unlimited virtual appointments with licensed vets, unlimited 24/7 messaging, and prescription access for up to five pets.

It’s peace of mind and accessible treatment for one low annual price.