Vet apps are becoming more and more popular and are even starting to become a common resource for the modern dog owner. Many dog owners can benefit from using vet apps because they make pet health care much easier and more convenient. Vet apps can help improve communication between vets and their clients, and they also make tele-triage accessible to a wider audience.

If you’re unfamiliar with or new to the world of vet apps, we have everything you need to know about some of the most popular vet apps you can download onto your phone. Here are some apps that are currently trending this year.

How Are Vet Apps Classified?

Vet apps are mainly used to manage vet clinics and provide telehealth services to pet owners. Vet clinic management apps make daily operations run smoother. They can help clinics with scheduling appointments, sending reminders, and collecting medical bill payments. They’re designed to make a vet’s job easier by enabling them to focus on treating their patients.

Telehealth vet apps provide tele-triage or telemedicine to pet owners. They can’t fully replace in-person vet appointments and annual checkups, but they have the potential to be extremely useful in different circumstances.

Tele-triage apps connect users to a licensed vet or vet tech. These veterinary professionals can answer basic questions about your dog’s health and nutrition, but they can’t diagnose or prescribe medication.

Tele-triage apps are often used for emergencies or unexpected illnesses in dogs. Veterinary professionals can let you know if your dog’s condition requires immediate medical attention or if it can wait until the morning. They can also provide a care plan that you can follow until you can see your vet.

Telemedicine vet apps are less common, and they typically require an established relationship with a vet. Vets can conduct more thorough assessments of your dog and make a diagnosis. They can also prescribe medication and treatment. The use of telemedicine vet apps varies from state to state, as states have individual laws and regulations for pet telemedicine services.

The 10 Most Popular Vet Apps

Here are the most popular vet apps this year, along with their rating and the number of ratings as of mid-2024. But keep in mind that those numbers are likely to change.

1. PetDesk

PetDesk is one of the most used veterinary practice management apps. It specializes in fast and convenient communication and scheduling for veterinarians and their clients. You can use PetDesk to schedule or reschedule appointments, view your dog’s medical records, and chat with a vet for follow-up care. Vet practices are able to send intake forms and reminders for appointments, health checks, and payments.

PetDesk also offers other digital marketing features to help attract and retain clients. For example, you can set up a custom loyalty program, which provides perks for existing clients and incentives for re-visits.

2. PetsApp

PetsApp is another well-known app for managing vet practices. You can use it to book appointments and make payments directly to your vet clinic. Vets can send their clients appointment reminders and health goals for their dogs.

This app also has telecommunication options so that you can connect with an on-call vet. It’s mainly used for tele-triage purposes and is particularly helpful if you have quick follow-up questions after your dog returns from an appointment.

3. VitusVet

VitusVet makes taking care of pets easier for both vets and pet owners. This software works exceptionally well in improving communication between vet clinics and their clients. Once pet owners download the VitusVet app, they can schedule or reschedule appointments on their own time. They’ll also have 24/7 access to their medical records.

Vet clinics can send automated appointment reminders to their clients and connect with them via two-way texting for follow-up care questions. VitusVet can also help with digital marketing by assisting clients with transitioning to digital communication and automatically sending out surveys and reminders to post reviews online.

4. Airvet

Airvet is one of the largest pet tele-triage companies. Its robust team of vets can help concerned dog parents at any time of day or night. It operates on a monthly subscription, and customers have unlimited 24/7 access to a vet.

Airvet has helped over 200,000 pet parents, and it’s a particularly useful app if you have a dog with chronic health issues. You can request video calls or live chat with a vet with any questions or concerns about your dog’s health. The vet can provide general care tips and let you know if your dog’s condition requires emergency care or if you can wait until the next day to take them to your vet.

5. Pawp

Pawp is a subscription-based tele-triage app designed to give you peace of mind. Users have 24/7 access to Pawp’s list of registered vets, and you can communicate with them by video call or text. It’s really helpful to have an app like Pawp on hand because you can connect with a veterinarian if your energetic dog gets into an accident or if your elderly dog is showing signs of age-related health issues.

It’s clear that Pawp works to help dog owners prioritize care for their dogs. Along with providing 24/7 support, you can opt for Pawp’s Emergency Fund, which provides up to $3,000 of financial aid for qualifying emergency medical procedures. Pawp also offers a free one-month trial so that you can test it out before choosing to enroll in a subscription plan.

Vet practices can also choose to offer 24/7 tele-triage services if they have on-call vets on staff. Existing clients can connect with a vet by text or video call if their dog gets into an emergency situation or if they want to ask follow-up care questions.

6. Otto: Your Pet’s App

Otto primarily works as a management app that helps vet clinics run smoothly. Clients can use the app to schedule appointments, and clinics can send them intake forms and other necessary paperwork to fill out before they arrive. Otto also helps make keeping track of payments easier by sending payment reminders and enabling clients to make quick payments through the app.

7. FirstVet

FirstVet is a pet tele-triage app that’s simple and easy to use. You don’t have to sign up and pay for a monthly subscription to use it, as FirstVet offers pet owners the option to pay per consultation. If you like using FirstVet, you can sign up for a monthly subscription plan and experience savings if you choose a 12-month plan.

The different subscription options enable more flexibility for dog owners. If your dog is relatively healthy and usually plays it safe, then you can choose to pay for single visits. If your dog is older or has a chronic health issue, the subscription plan can help you save on costs by providing unlimited 24/7 access to a team of licensed vets. You can schedule an appointment with them either by live chat or video call.

8. PetCoach by Petco

PetCoach is an app that you’ll want to download and have on hand. It’s a completely free app, and it provides tons of information about taking care of dogs. If you have a question regarding your dog’s health and wellness, you can simply type your question into PetCoach’s search bar, and PetCoach will scan its immense database for articles related to your search.

Every article has been reviewed by a veterinarian for accuracy and correct health information. If you don’t find any relevant articles, you can choose to submit a question to a PetCoach veterinarian. Just keep in mind that replies aren’t immediate and can take some time to arrive.

9. Digitail

Digitail is a pet tele-triage app that connects its users to veterinarians in 30 minutes or less. Veterinarians can answer general health questions and give you care advice when you’re concerned about your pet’s health. Similar to PetCoach, Digitail has a database of previously asked questions that its users can read through if they want more information on a specific health issue.

This app does require a monthly subscription, but it offers a free one-month trial. So, you have plenty of time to test it out before choosing to pay for a subscription.

10. Vetster: 24/7 Online Vets

Vetster has a team of thousands of licensed vets located all across North America. You can browse through Vetster’s list of vets and choose to book appointments with your preferred vet. Receiving medication is available in select states.

A convenient benefit of Vetster is that it doesn’t require signing up for a subscription in order for people to use it, and you can pay for one-time appointments. If you plan to use Vetster more frequently, you can sign up for an annual plan. Annual plans offer four video calls with a veterinarian and unlimited live chat. For more comprehensive care, you can sign up for Vetster Plus, which unlocks 24/7 licensed vet care.

Conclusion

While vet apps can’t completely replace traditional in-person vet appointments, they can still be helpful tools for dog owners. They can make communicating with vets much easier and more accessible. They also give dog owners peace of mind and clear care instructions in moments when their dogs suddenly get sick or injured.

Many vet apps offer a free trial period. So, if you’re curious about the world of vet apps, look for a service that provides a free trial before you decide to sign up and pay for a monthly subscription.

Featured Image Credit: SeventyFour, Shutterstock