Best online vets who write prescriptions

Providing quality care for your pet can feel overwhelming, especially if they need solutions that require prescriptions. 

The good news is that there are online vets who write prescriptions — with their expertise, you can address many non-emergency conditions such as allergies, anxiety, coughing, arthritis, diarrhea, fleas, and ticks, without waiting weeks or months for an appointment at the local vet center.

Licensed online vets don’t just prescribe medication. They create personalized, science-based treatments, which may include supportive therapies and training exercises to ensure long-term comfort and relief for your furry family member. 

If you’re considering telemedicine for your pet, the key is to find the right online vet platform and to learn the veterinary-client-patient relationship laws in your state. We’re here to offer support by sharing the best online vets who write prescriptions, the pros and cons of online vet care, and what to expect from veterinary virtual care. 

Can online vets write prescriptions?

Yes, you can get a prescription from an online veterinarian. However, there must first be an established connection between you, the vet, and the pet, also known as a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR). 

This relationship is established either in-person (in most states) or remotely (available in Arizona, California, Idaho, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, Vermont, the District of Columbia, and Florida). Using the Veterinary Virtual Care Association’s interactive map, you can easily check the telemedicine laws in your state.

If you live in a state where a remote VCPR is available and you want to get pet prescriptions, your next step is to find a telemedicine service that prescribes pet medications.

Telemedicine vs. tele-triage

There are two types of online vet appointments: telemedicine and teletriage (or telehealth). 

During a telemedicine appointment, a licensed vet can diagnose certain medical conditions, create a personalized treatment plan, and provide a prescription. However, you must submit some important information first, including: 

• Pet records — both medical and vaccine history 
• Images of their symptoms, poop, and any other noticeable changes 

• List of concerns and questions

On the other hand, a telehealth/teletriage appointment is when a veterinarian provides medical advice, such as recommending over-the-counter (OTC) medications to help alleviate symptoms or advising that you take your pet to a veterinary clinic. During this appointment, the vet cannot diagnose your pet’s condition or prescribe medication.

Best online vets who write prescriptions

Discover the top online providers that can prescribe pet medications:

1. Dutch

Dutch provides same-day, science-based pet care and prescribes medications for dogs and cats. They treat over 150 medical issues, including those related to skin, teeth, and urinary health, as well as allergies, diarrhea, trembling, anxiety, fleas, ticks, hair loss, and arthritis. Within a 10-minute call, vets at Dutch will prescribe medication and provide a quick solution to your pet’s struggles.

Our licensed vets create personalized treatment plans after thoroughly examining your pet’s current health condition and specific needs. Just fill out a questionnaire and share your pet’s biggest issues at the moment. You can also provide photos and videos that the our vets use to get a better understanding of your pet’s behavior, symptoms, and stressors.

Dutch offers unlimited vet visits and follow-ups, guaranteed low prescription prices, and 24/7 care. With Dutch, premium pet care is made simple and stress-free. Membership includes:

• Access to licensed vets who can prescribe medication online after reviewing your pet’s condition
• Customized treatment plans that combine medication, supportive therapies, and proven, at-home exercises that help your pet feel better
• FDA-approved treatments that are delivered straight to your door, with free standard shipping 

• Continuous professional guidance, rooted in science and created in partnership with experienced behaviorists and dermatologists

Price: 

• 1-year membership: $11 monthly (billed $132)

• 2-year membership: $8 monthly (billed $195)

Register with Dutch today for the best possible care for your pet—all from the comfort of home.

2. Vetster

Vetster is a telemedicine platform that connects pet parents and licensed vets globally, providing on-demand support. The platform allows pet parents to browse profiles and check reviews before choosing the vet they want to consult. 

Appointments are available 24/7, either through messages or video calls, with vets offering guidance, triage, and next steps depending on the pet’s symptoms. They can recommend OTC medication and advise pet parents on whether they need to see an in-person vet. They can also provide prescriptions if local regulations allow.

Price:

• Per single appointment: From $102
• Vetster Plus Yearly Membership: $10 monthly

3. Chewy Connect With a Vet

Chewy’s Connect with a Vet is a virtual vet service for dogs and cats. It provides two options for support: One is a free chat with a licensed vet technician, and the other is a virtual visit with a licensed vet. 

The techs can guide, advise, and recommend products to pet parents nationwide, except in Georgia, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Their virtual vet visits are currently available in Virginia, and these online vets can write prescriptions for different pet medications. The conditions they treat are digestive issues, skin and ear concerns, behavior issues, and tick and flea prevention.

Price:

• Per vet call in Virginia: $49.99

• Chat with a licensed vet technician outside Virginia: Free (requires signing up for a Chewy account)

4. Pawp

Pawp is a virtual vet membership-based platform that provides 24/7 access to licensed vets, technicians, and nurses, and the ability to get medications prescribed online for an annual fee. 

Using the Pawp app, pet parents can book a consultation through text, video, or phone, have their pet evaluated, and get prescriptions. They offer unlimited on-demand consultations for different conditions, including allergies, infections, anxiety, digestive issues, and more.

Price:

• 1-month free trial: New members only 
• Annual membership: $99 per year, billed automatically after the end of the free trial
• Prescription visits in eligible states: $35 

5. Airvet

AirVet is a virtual vet platform that connects pet parents with licensed vets 24/7, offering support for multiple pets in a household. Using their app, users can book online appointments, get personalized treatment plans, and access prescriptions if eligible (available in specific states only and dependent on the type of membership).

This platform is widely used as a corporate pet benefit for employees with pets, but it’s also available to individuals who need an on-demand vet virtual service for dogs and cats.

Price:

• Airvet membership: $35 per month
• Per call: $75

Pros and cons of online vet care

The emergence of telehealth and telemedicine has significantly changed veterinary care. Today, pet parents can easily contact a veterinarian using video calls and messages, seek professional advice, and have pet medications prescribed. 

Let’s explore the main pros and cons of this important technological advancement.

Pros of virtual vet care:

• It’s convenient: Telemedicine and telehealth remove the hassle of preparing your pet for a trip to the local vet clinic, and consultations take place from the most comfortable place for you and your pet: your home. It saves you time, effort, and money, and prevents your pet from experiencing stress.
• It’s accessible: Geographical barriers mean nothing in the world of telemedicine and telehealth, as platforms often offer nationwide — and even global — coverage. This makes vet care accessible even in areas without vet clinics. Pet parents can get expert advice and consultation, regardless of location, ensuring timely care day and night.
• It’s stress-free: Many pets experience anxiety and fear at vet clinics, especially if they associate the place with unpleasant experiences like examinations or vaccines. Virtual vet platforms eliminate the need to leave a familiar place, reducing stress for both your pet and you.
• It’s efficient: Online vet platforms simplify follow-ups and chronic condition monitoring. You get access to licensed vets who will track their progress and adjust treatment plans as needed. They’ll also help in managing chronic conditions from the comfort of your own home, reducing the need for frequent in-person consultations that can be costly and time-consuming. 

• It doesn’t always require in-person VCPR: In some states, you don’t need to have an in-person VCPR established to have pet prescriptions, as the relationship can be established remotely. This eases the process of getting prompt treatment for your dog or cat when you need it the most.

Cons of virtual vet care:

• It can’t replicate interventions: Some vet procedures, such as blood tests, heartworm and tick tests, imaging, and surgeries, require hands-on intervention. If your pet needs any of them, you’ll have to take them to a traditional vet clinic.
• It’s limited in diagnostics: Vets use a variety of diagnostic procedures and equipment to diagnose health issues in pets, and these are impossible to replicate in virtual vet care. If your pet needs to be examined with a diagnostic tool, they need to be taken to a vet clinic to ensure timely treatment.
• It’s impossible to conduct a physical exam: During virtual vet appointments, a vet can’t perform a physical examination of your pet. Videos and photos are very helpful, but sometimes, a physical examination is the only way a vet can detect subtle symptoms of an injury or disease. 
• It feels impersonal to some: Some pet parents consider virtual vet visits to be less personal than in-person appointments. The lack of physical presence and direct interaction with their pet may diminish the overall experience and the sense of trust between pet parents and vets.
• It lacks the opportunity to bond: Many pet parents consider the bond between their pets and vets essential. Unlike virtual appointments, in-person ones ensure direct pet-vet interaction, promote trust, and encourage the formation of a strong bond, ensuring optimal care. 

• It requires an in-person VCPR first: In some states where a remote VCPR isn’t legal, such as Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Michigan, Arkansas, Alabama, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, a vet must have physically examined your pet for the VCPR to be established.

What to expect from an online vet appointment

During a telemedicine appointment, you’ll video chat with a licensed veterinarian or a vet technician to discuss your pet’s current medical issues. During the appointment, they may ask you to bring your pet close to the camera or to submit photos and videos of the pet’s symptoms. 

They’ll also ask questions about your pet’s health history so they can provide a thorough, personalized assessment, offer expert advice, suggest treatments, and prescribe medications if needed.

The goal of virtual vet platforms is to simplify, speed up, and ease the process for both your pet and you. Although every online vet platform works in its own unique way, most of them share a similar process that looks like this:

• You fill in a questionnaire with details about your pet’s complaints, symptoms, behavior, and changes. 
• You submit photos and videos, and your vet will use them to have a better understanding of what’s going on. 
• You choose a way of connection — though most of these platforms are based on video chats, some also offer texting or phone call options.
• You discuss your pet’s symptoms with a licensed veterinarian or a vet technician, depending on the platform, during the appointment. 
• The vet or technician may ask follow-up questions, check the photos and videos, and ask to observe your pet on camera. 
• Your vet will provide guidance, explain what the symptoms could indicate, and advise on whether further tests, an in-person examination, or diagnostic tests are needed. 
• Your vet may prescribe medications if the platform supports it and the laws in your state allow it. 

• Your vet may provide a written report of the findings, as well as recommend next steps and additional recommendations. 

Questions your vet may ask before writing a prescription

If the vet is considering a prescription medication as part of your pet’s treatment, they may ask you several questions to make a safe, informed medical decision. Providing answers will help your vet learn more about your pet’s behavior, symptoms, and overall health.

Explore some of them below:

• When did the issue that you’re reporting begin?
• Have the symptoms improved, worsened, or remained the same?
• Did you notice any changes in your pet’s appetite, energy, or bathroom habits?
• Is your pet scratching, limping, shaking its head, or in pain?
• Have you noticed any unusual symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, discharge, redness, swelling, or vomiting?
• Has your pet been diagnosed with an existing medical condition or a chronic one?
• Is your pet currently on any medications or supplements, and which ones? 
• Is your pet’s allergy associated with food, environment, or medication?
• Do you have any recent lab, imaging, or vaccination records?
• Has anything changed in your pet’s life recently (a new family member, a new pet, a new environment, a change in food, etc.)?

• Would you be comfortable administering topical or oral medications, if necessary?

When to seek in-person veterinary care

Although online vet care has amazing perks for you and your pet, there are instances when you must seek immediate in-person vet care. 

These are:

• Emergencies such as choking, difficulty breathing, open mouth breathing, bleeding, deep wounds, seizures, trauma such as falling or being hit by a car or another object, collapse, lethargy, unresponsiveness, poisoning, and toxin ingestion.
• Symptoms of serious diseases, such as diarrhea and vomiting that don’t stop with visible blood, a hard, distended abdomen, high fever, chills, stumbling, weakness, hind-leg paralysis, mouth foaming, worsening pain, and neurological distress.
• Symptoms that require further tests and procedures, such as new or worsening heart murmurs, dental disease that requires teeth extractions, masses and lumps that have to be biopsied, ear infections, chronic skin conditions that don’t improve, and chronic conditions that need to be managed with bloodwork or imaging.

• Reproductive and urinary emergencies such as difficulty urinating, straining to urinate, urine with blood, inability to urinate, potential pyometra (a serious uterine complication), a blocked bladder in a male cat (characterized by hiding, crying out, or visiting their litter box without producing urine), and labor complications.

Access top-tier online vet care and prescriptions with Dutch

Online vet care has forever changed how vets address health issues in pets and how pet parents care for their pets. Although remote vets aren’t a replacement for in-person emergencies, imaging, and certain conditions, they play a significant role in helping you stay on top of your pet’s health from the comfort of your home.

You can access top-tier online vets and prescriptions with Dutch. Combining licensed veterinarians with years of experience and science-based FDA-approved treatment plans, this telemedicine platform ensures your dog or cat gets the best possible care. All treatments are rooted in science and expertise and delivered by licensed veterinarians.

Available 24/7, including nights and weekends, the experienced vets at Dutch provide personalized treatment plans for dogs and cats. They also provide supportive therapies, recommend at-home exercises, and prescribe FDA-approved medications for conditions such as anxiety, allergies, fleas, ticks, arthritis, urinary issues, and more.

It’s never been easier to get your pet the care they deserve without waiting rooms and stress. For only $8 per month with a 2-year plan, you’ll get unlimited vet calls and follow-ups, same-day access to licensed veterinarians, coverage for up to five pets, and exclusive discounts and gifts. It’s expert care made simple so your dog or cat can feel better, faster.

Start treatment today.

Online vets who write prescriptions FAQs

What is a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR)?

VCPR is short for veterinarian-client-patient-relationship. It describes the professional relationship between you, your pets, and your veterinarian. It’s considered established when your vet knows your pet well enough — either through a recent in-person examination, a regular checkup, or a remote consultation — to make informed decisions about their health.

Although in most states it must be established in person first so that a vet can legally prescribe meds online, Arizona, California, Idaho, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, Vermont, the District of Columbia, and Florida allow a remote VCPR, which allows virtual vet platforms like Dutch to legally prescribe medications in those states.

To learn more about telemedicine and VCPR laws in your state, access the interactive map of the Veterinary Virtual Care Association.

What pet health questions can an online vet service answer?

Online vets can answer a long list of questions about your pet’s health issues, diet and nutrition, behavior, and parasite control. The exact answers you get depend on whether you’re contacting a telehealth or a telemedicine platform. Using the former, you can only get general medical advice and guidance for your pet’s health. However, you won’t be able to get a diagnosis or prescriptions. 

Vets from telemedicine platforms can diagnose pets and answer questions. They also provide personalized treatment plans for arthritis, fleas and ticks, anxiety, and allergies, and they can often prescribe medication if they have an established VCPR.

What can't a virtual vet service do?

Virtual vet services can’t help with emergencies like:

• Choking
• Difficulty breathing
• Open mouth breathing
• Bleeding
• Deep wounds
• Seizures
• Falling or being hit by a car or another object
• Collapse 
• Lethargy
• Unresponsiveness

• Poisoning

Virtual vet services also can’t assist pets with symptoms indicating a serious disease, such as:

• Diarrhea and vomiting that don’t stop and contain blood
• A hard, distended abdomen
• High fever
• Chills
• Stumbling
• Weakness
• Hind-leg paralysis
• Mouth foaming
• Worsening pain

• Neurological distress

Symptoms that require diagnostics also require an in-person visit. These might include:

• New or worsening heart murmurs
• Dental disease that requires teeth extractions
• Masses and lumps that have to be biopsied
• Chronic skin conditions that don’t improve

• Chronic conditions that require bloodwork or imaging

Here are a few other symptoms or situations that may require in-person support:

• Urinary emergencies, such as straining to urinate
• Bloody urine, pyometra (a serious uterine complication)
• A blocked bladder in a male cat that’s hiding, crying out, or visiting their litter box without producing urine

• Labor complications

Is it cheaper to get a vet prescription online?

Generally speaking, it’s more affordable to buy pet prescriptions online, even if you consider the one-time or monthly fees you have to pay. Online vet pharmacies’ lower prices are a direct result of their lower operational costs than those of physical clinics, bulk purchasing from manufacturers, and competitive pricing.

The affordability of online pharmacies is beneficial if your pet needs several OTCs and prescriptions monthly. For a monthly membership fee, virtual vet platforms provide access to prescriptions, personalized treatments, and science-backed expertise. 

For example, at Dutch, you can sign up for as low as $8 per month for a 2-year plan and enjoy perks like guaranteed low prescription prices and free shipping of prescriptions to your home.

Can vets give advice online?

Online vets can offer medical advice, even without an established VCPR. Telehealth platforms are an example of an advice-based online vet clinic. Their vets can advise whether you should take your pet to an in-person clinic, but they can’t provide a diagnosis or prescription.

If the VCPR has been established and you’re joining a telemedicine platform, a vet’s role goes beyond advising: They will diagnose your pet and prescribe the needed medications for your pet.