A dog that suddenly feels unwell on holiday. A cat that is not herself on a Sunday evening. With VETTS, the online vet from Nijmegen, pet owners do not have to wait for opening hours. They ask their question in the app, by chat or by video call, and an experienced vet answers.
A real vet, not a chatbot
Before the conversation starts, the app asks a few questions, so the vet gets a clear picture of the situation. Then a real vet takes over. VETTS is plain about it: it is no chatbot and no AI. Its vets have years of practical experience, are registered with the Dutch government and each have at least five years in the job.
Between seven in the morning and eleven at night, an answer usually comes within fifteen minutes. At night it takes a little longer, and the owner gets a text message as soon as the vet has replied. After a video call, the vet leaves a short summary of the advice in the app, to read back later.
“Animals cannot speak, so finding out why an animal is ill takes both science and intuition.”
One of the VETTS vets
A trip saved, and some stress
Owners come with questions about health and behaviour: symptoms they notice, food, or a change in how their pet acts. The reviews on the VETTS site tell the same story. One owner was put at ease during a holiday in Austria, when the dog fell ill and their own vet could not be reached. Others write that the advice saved them a drive, and an expensive visit, to the vet.
Knowing its limits
VETTS is for dogs, cats and rabbits. And it is honest about what an online vet cannot do: it is not meant for emergencies or life-threatening situations. For those moments, the app shows the nearest emergency clinic. VETTS B.V. is based at the Keizer Karelplein in Nijmegen.
VETTSChat and video consultations with a vet, in one app.
