How to Build a Top Veterinary Telehealth App in Canada: Examples, Features & Compliance
3 months ago
Let’s talk about how vet care is getting a tech upgrade.
For vets and health tech entrepreneurs, things are changing fast.
Imagine not having to deal with crowded waiting rooms or stressed-out pets.
Now, with just a tap, pet owners can connect with vets right from their homes.
The veterinary telehealth market is on the rise.
In 2022, it was valued at USD 149.5 million, and it’s expected to grow at a rate of 17.0% from 2023 to 2030.
In Canada and the USA, some apps are really making waves, offering everything from video consults to prescription services and pet health monitoring.
Take Vetsie, for example. This Canadian vet clinic just raised $285,000 in its pre-seed round.
Clearly, digital pet care is in demand.
And with about 33% of Canadian households owning dogs and 35% owning cats, the market is ready for it.
In this blog, we’ll check out the top 8 veterinary telehealth apps in Canada and the USA. These apps are changing how pet care works.
A Deep Dive into Leading Telehealth Platforms
Airvet is a telehealth platform that connects pet owners with licensed veterinarians for real-time video consultations. Users can access a wide range of services, including diagnosis, treatment plans, and prescription refills.
Key Features
- On-demand video consultations
- Real-time diagnosis and treatment recommendations
- Prescription writing and refills
- Access to a network of experienced veterinarians
How it Works
1. Pet owners download the Airvet app and create an account.
2. They schedule a video consultation with an available veterinarian.
3. The veterinarian conducts a thorough examination and provides diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
4. Prescriptions can be electronically sent to the pet owner's preferred pharmacy.
Apple rating: 4.9/5 stars
Google rating: 4.5/5 stars
Vetster is a Canadian telehealth platform offering virtual consultations, prescription refills, and access to veterinary specialists. It integrates with electronic health records, ensuring seamless communication between pet owners and veterinarians.
Key Features
- Virtual consultations with licensed veterinarians
- Prescription refills and management
- Access to veterinary specialists
- Integration with electronic health records
- Secure messaging
How it Works
1. Pet owners create an account on the Vetster platform and schedule a virtual consultation.
2. The veterinarian conducts a thorough examination and provides diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
3. Prescriptions can be electronically sent to the pet owner's preferred pharmacy.
4. Electronic health records are accessible to both pet owners and veterinarians for seamless communication.
Apple rating: 4.3/5 stars
Google rating: 4.7/5 stars
Pawp offers a unique approach to pet care by providing 24/7 access to licensed veterinarians through text, chat, and video consultations. This platform emphasizes a personalized care experience, focusing on long-term pet health goals.
Key Features
- Unlimited 24/7 access to licensed veterinarians
- Text, chat, and video consultations
- Personalized care plans based on pet's health goals
- Behavioral support and advice
How it Works
1. Pet owners sign up for a Pawp membership.
2. They can text, chat, or video call with a veterinarian anytime, day or night.
3. The veterinarian provides diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and ongoing care advice.
4. Pawp offers personalized care plans tailored to each pet's specific needs.
Apple rating: 4.8/5 stars
Google rating: 4.8/5 stars
FirstVet offers accessible and affordable veterinary care through video consultations. It focuses on providing convenient and timely medical advice for common pet health concerns.
Key Features
- Convenient and affordable video consultations
- Access to licensed veterinarians
- Prescription refills
- Follow-up care
How it Works
1. Pet owners download the FirstVet app and create an account.
2. They schedule a video consultation with an available veterinarian.
3. The veterinarian provides diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and prescription information.
4. Prescriptions can be electronically sent to the pet owner's preferred pharmacy.
Apple rating: 4.6/5 stars
Google rating: 4.4/5 stars
TeleVet offers a comprehensive telehealth platform for a variety of pet health concerns. It provides access to a network of veterinarians for consultations, prescription refills, and general pet care advice.
Key Features
- Telemedicine services for various pet health issues
- Access to a network of veterinarians
- Prescription refills and management
- Secure messaging platform
- Pet health resources
How it Works
1. Pet owners create an account on the TeleVet platform.
2. They can schedule a video consultation or utilize the messaging platform to connect with a veterinarian.
3. The veterinarian provides diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and prescription information.
4. Prescriptions can be electronically sent to the pet owner's preferred pharmacy.
PetMD offers a comprehensive pet health resource platform, including telehealth services. While not solely focused on telemedicine, it provides access to veterinary professionals for consultations and advice.
Key Features
- Extensive pet health information and resources
- Symptom checker for initial pet health assessment
- Medication information and guides
- Access to veterinary professionals for consultations
- Pet insurance information
How it Works
1. Pet owners can use the PetMD platform to access a wealth of pet health information.
2. The symptom checker can help identify potential health issues.
3. Users can schedule consultations with veterinarians for further diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
4. PetMD provides information on various medications and pet insurance options.
Know the Different Types of Pet Telehealth Apps Before You Launch
When it comes to building a telehealth app for pets, there are several development paths you can take, each with its own pros, cons, and costs:
Custom Platform
This is the full-package deal. You hire an app agency to handle everything from start to finish, creating the app entirely from scratch. But keep in mind, this approach is costly. Developers will likely spend over 500 hours on your project, and they charge by the hour.
MVP Platform
The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach is all about starting small. You focus on essential features only, build a basic version of the app, and launch it to test the market. It’s a smart choice if you have limited funds and want to invest gradually as you gather feedback.
Native App
If you want a top-tier app experience on both iOS and Android, a native app is the way to go. However, this means writing separate code for each platform, which doubles the development time and cost.
Cross-Platform App
For a more budget-friendly option, consider a cross-platform app. Developers write a single codebase that works on both Android and iOS, cutting down the development time and cost significantly.
Progressive Web App (PWA)
If a mobile app is out of your budget, a Progressive Web App might be the perfect solution. PWAs run on web browsers but mimic mobile apps in look and feel, offering features like offline access, push notifications, and background updates. Plus, they’re about 30-40% cheaper than traditional mobile apps.
Each option has its pros and cons. We can help you choose the best fit for your goals and budget. Reach out for a free consultation to explore your options.
Ensuring Your Vet App Is Compliant with Privacy Laws
Let’s talk about something really important—privacy laws for your vet app.
If you’re launching a virtual vet care platform in Canada, you need to make sure it follows healthcare data privacy laws like PHIPA, HIPAA, and HIA.
These laws aren’t just suggestions—they’re requirements.
You’ll need to address all the technical and administrative rules to stay compliant.
If you don’t, you could end up facing some pretty — big fines.
And it doesn’t stop there. You also need to do a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to find privacy risks in your organization and a Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) to uncover any vulnerabilities in your tech platform.
Here’s the tricky part—many app development companies don’t have dedicated compliance specialists.
That means you might have to hire one yourself, which can be expensive.
To avoid these extra costs, it’s smart to go with a local Canadian IT company that already has compliance specialists on board.
They know how serious it is to stay compliant with these laws and can help you navigate the process smoothly.
