Video Vet

Worried about your pet? Video chat with an online vet within minutes

Book an online video chat with one of our online emergency vets and talk through your concerns from the comfort of your own home.

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We're here for you seven days a week from 8am to 11pm.

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How our online vet advice service works

  1. Never Pay Twice, Ever!

    A 10-minute online vet consult costs just £24 which you can pay online using a credit or debit card.  We will refund your online video vet consultation if we recommend an in-person follow up within 48 hours. (Full details in FAQs below).

     

  2. What will happen?

    You explain your pet’s symptoms to our online vet, and they examine them by looking and listening to their symptoms on the screen. The online vet will either offer advice on caring for your pet at home or, if it’s an emergency, they will help you arrange treatment.

     

  3. How do I book?

    On your smartphone, computer or tablet, click ‘book now‘ to choose from the list of available online vet time slots. Fill in a short form about your pet and use a credit or debit card to pay. Once you’ve booked your online video vet consultation, you’ll receive an email to click on your appointment time.

     

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Your Experiences

  • Angela Newman

    I spoke with Dave after my cavalier ate a bar of dairy milk I was stashing from the kids! (110g one not the small one!) Dave totally put me at ease after calculating his weight and how much Rocky had ingested and talked me through what to keep an eye out for! Such a good service! Thanks so much

     

  • Jess

    Laura was perfectly on time for the appointment and straight away was trying to see what she could do to help! She was kind, polite and personable; and she really helped to put my mind at ease. I really feel like she cared and wanted the best for my pet. Will definitely use & recommend this service in future.

     

  • Richard Sleeman

    I was really worried about our cat Mabel, who was completely lacking in energy. The vet, Elise Bardesley-Anderson, was very patient, reassuring, thorough and helpful. I have since discovered that Mabel ate some of our neighbours African lilies from their garden!

     

  • J Hines

    I got a video appointment within the hour, the vet filled me with confidence and asked many questions. The email I received confirming what was said and what to look out for was fantastic. I was very impressed and wouldn’t hesitate to use this service in the future.

     

  • Maria

    We were a little worried about our puppy. Once we spoke to the vet through the video call it really helped us to calm down and know what we should do about his condition. Really great service and really nice people.

     

  • Anne O'Donnell

    Really kind and reassuring. Glad I booked a consultation

     

  • Annabel Burey

    Really helpful, listened to all questions and really thorough with solutions. very polite!

     

  • Eduardo de la Vega Toledo

    I was reluctant at the beginning with having an online consultation, but when the veterinarian started with the attention was very professional. She made every minute of the consult count and give us a potential diagnostic for the allergies that my dog had. I completely recommend this service as a gatekeeper system in emergency solving. So thankful of Eleanor Holland!! Azafran would be better soon 🙂

     

Online vet consultation at Vets Now

Is an online vet consultation right for me?

If you’re worried about your pet and your regular vet is closed, we’re here for you. Our online vet can talk through your concerns and give you advice and peace of mind, or let you know if your pet needs to be seen at a clinic.

For more information, please read our Video Vets Now faqs.

Please be aware that our vets are unable to prescribe medication via video consult.

 

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Our online vets

What might be life-threatening:

Here are just some of the conditions our vets deem to be potentially life-threatening. In all of these cases, your pet may need urgent emergency treatment so please contact your registered vet or find your nearest Vets Now clinic immediately.

  • Breathing difficulties
  • Deep or extensive wound injuries or significant bleeding (dripping)
  • Prolonged seizure/fitting (more than 2 continuous minutes or more than 2 separate fits)
  • Collapse
  • Serious trauma (e.g. car accidents)
  • Male cats struggling to pass urine or faeces
  • Rabbits neglecting food

  • Swallowing hazards i.e. toys/ clothes etc
  • Ingestion of toxic/harmful substances
  • Eye problems
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhoea especially if your pet appears quiet or depressed or if it is going on for a long time (more than 24 hours)
  • Swollen abdomen or retching (especially large dogs)
  • Struggling to give birth

FAQs

How does it work?

Once you have booked an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join your video chat. It works just like a Facetime or Zoom call. You don’t need any special gadgets or technology, just a webcam and mic so the vet can see and hear you and your pet. You can use your mobile, desktop, laptop or tablet. Most have built-in webcams and mics.

Make sure your pet is with you. The vet can gain plenty of information and provide reliable advice based on your pet’s behavior, demeanor, physical characteristics and body language – all of which they can observe on a webcam.

 

How long will my appointment last?

Video consults are scheduled to last 10 minutes.  To get the most out of your video chat, please make sure you’re ready to join at the right time. If you have more than one problem to discuss with the vet, you may need to book 2 or more appointments.

 

What equipment do I need?

Video Vets Now works on a mobile, laptop, desktop or tablet. The vet will want to see your pet and talk with you face-to-face, so it is best to sit with your pet in a well-lit area with little background noise. You will also need a decent internet connection.

You will also need access to the email address and mobile phone that you provided when you booked your appointment, so that the vet can contact you if there are any technical problems with your video link.

 

What should I do if I can't access my appointment?

If you experience any of the following problems with your online consultation, contact [email protected]:

  • You don’t receive your booking confirmation email
  • You don’t receive a link to take you to your video consultation
  • There’s a problem with the payment process
  • You’re having difficulties with your internet connection
  • You miss your consult

Please remember, our vets will use the phone number and email address you provided if they are unable to reach you via the video chat link within the booking email. The phone number will come up as ‘No caller ID.’

 

Who are the vets I'll be speaking with?

Our vets are all experienced clinicians with a wealth of knowledge in emergency medicine. All our vets are RCVS registered.

 

Can I use Video Vets Now abroad?

The service is only available to UK residents. If you reside outside the UK, you should contact a veterinary surgeon in your own country who will be more familiar with local diseases and health problems.

 

What symptoms can Video Vets Now help with?

We know that being a pet owner can sometimes be a worry. We’re here to answer any questions or concerns you may have. On most occasions, we can help you decide the right course of action for the health and wellbeing of your pet.

Video Vets Now is most suited to non-urgent queries. It can be used for general advice and guidance on whether you should be seen in clinic.

Here are some of the conditions our vets deem to be potentially life-threatening and are not suitable for Video Vets Now. In each case, your pet may need urgent emergency treatment so please contact your registered vet or out-of-hours care provider immediately.

  • Breathing difficulties
  • Deep or extensive wound injuries or significant bleeding (dripping)
  • Seizing/fitting
  • Collapse
  • Trauma (e.g. car accidents)
  • Male cats struggling to pass urine or faeces
  • Rabbits neglecting food
  • Any illness or injury in pets younger than 2 weeks old
  • Swallowing hazards i.e. toys/ clothes etc
  • Ingestion of toxic/harmful substances
  • Eye problems
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if your pet appears quiet or depressed or if it is going on for a long time (more than 24 hours)
  • Swollen abdomen or retching (especially large dogs)
  • Loss of thirst & appetite
  • Struggling to give birth

 

What animals can you help with?

The service is most appropriate for dogs, cats, domestic birds and small furries (such as guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits). It is not recommended for exotic animals and we cannot provide video consultations for farm animals.

 

How much does an appointment cost?

A 10-minute video consultation costs £24. If our vet recommends that you visit a clinic within 48hrs and you subsequently have a paid consultation with a veterinary surgeon for the same problem, we will refund your video consultation.

Please visit Video Vets Now Refund for more information

 

Am I eligible for a refund?

If our vets recommend an in-person vet visit within 48 hours of your call, you are eligible for a refund under our ‘Never Pay Twice’ policy. (More details below).

Otherwise, we can only offer refunds if:

  • You are unable to complete your consultation due to a technical problem related to our software or services.
  • The vet is unable to provide you with any information, guidance or advice.

If you believe you are entitled to a refund, you should contact us as soon as possible in writing (by email to [email protected]). We will then verify your entitlement to a refund and, if appropriate, complete the refund as soon as possible.

How can I cancel an appointment?

Please email if you would like to cancel your appointment.  Appointments that are cancelled more than 1 hour before the start time will be refunded.

 

What happens if I need to see a vet after my appointment and will my consult fee be refunded?

During your video consultation, you will be advised whether you should visit a vet in practice. If we recommend you are seen, we will refer you to your registered practice, help you find one closest or arrange an emergency appointment with Vets Now if it is out of traditional vet practice hours.

If you are seen within 48 hours of your video consultation, we will refund the cost of your video consult. To claim a full refund for your video consultation simply fill in the form here, providing proof that you’ve had an in-person follow-up consultation with your vet within 48 hours.

  • The Video Vets Now vet must have recommended that you attend a veterinary practice, in person, within 48 hours of your Video Vets Now consultation. (We know it’s not always possible to get an appointment within 48 hours, but don’t worry, if it takes longer than that just let us know why when you apply – we assess all refund requests individually on their merits.)
  • You must have attended a veterinary practice, in person, on the recommendation of the Video Vets Now vet and paid a full consultation fee. Discounted consultations and those included free as part of a pet health scheme are not eligible.
  • If you attend a clinic operated by Vets Now Emergency Limited following a Video Vets Now consultation, the cost of your Video Vets Now consultation will automatically be deducted from your bill so you won’t need to fill in the form below
  • Your refund request must include proof of the vet practice visit (e.g. vet practice invoice), including the date, the patient and owner’s details, and itemised consultation fee paid
Our full terms and condition of our service can found here – https://www.vets-now.com/legal/video-vet-refunds