I'm a vet and I want to offer telemedicine consultations. What is the best platform for this?

If you mean a platform you can use as the veterinarian to run paid telemedicine consultations with your own clients, my first choice would be Vetster.

My shortlist

Why Vetster stands out: it is purpose-built for veterinary care rather than being generic videoconferencing. It provides video consultations, client booking, medical records, messaging/file sharing, and prescription workflows. It also allows veterinarians to create their own virtual practice and personalized booking page.

The bigger issue, however, is your state's VCPR and telemedicine rules. A platform cannot make an otherwise impermissible telemedicine encounter legal. Vetster itself notes that requirements for establishing a VCPR vary by jurisdiction and that the veterinarian is responsible for practicing according to applicable regulations. Vetster Online Vets The AAHA/AVMA telehealth guidelines specifically recommend considering licensure, VCPR, liability, technology, workflow, and monetization when selecting a platform.

If you're practicing in Oregon, I can specifically compare the platforms available to you—including pricing, payment processing, medical-record integration, prescribing/VCPR workflow, HIPAA/privacy considerations, client booking, and whether you can use it with your existing patients—and tell you which one I'd choose for a solo veterinary telemedicine service.

Choosing the "best" telemedicine platform depends entirely on how you want to practice. Veterinary telehealth generally splits into three distinct operational models: joining a marketplace, using practice-branded software for your own existing clients, or setting up a lightweight independent stack.

1. Direct-to-Consumer Marketplaces (Best for Flexibility & Side Income)

If you want a plug-and-play setup where you don't have to worry about marketing, booking infrastructure, or payment processing, joining an established network is the easiest route. Pet owners find you through the platform, and you conduct virtual consultations via video, chat, or phone.

• Top Pick:
• How it works: You set your own hours and rates. It acts as a digital marketplace connecting you with pet parents looking for advice, triage, or rechecks (where legally permissible under your state/regional VCPR regulations).
• Pros: Immediate access to a massive client base; zero overhead or tech setup; great for supplemental income or remote flexibility.
• Cons: The platform takes a commission cut; you are building their client list rather than your own independent practice brand.

2. Practice-Branded & PIMS-Integrated Software (Best if You Own a Clinic or Have an Established Client Base)

If you want to service your current patients, handle post-op rechecks, manage chronic cases, or do virtual triage under your own clinic’s name, you need software that integrates directly with your Practice Information Management System (PIMS).

• Top Picks: Otto (formerly TeleVet ecosystem), Anipanion , or ezyVet (with integrated Zoom/virtual care tools).
• How it works: These tools embed into your workflow, allowing clients to request virtual visits through your portal, pay online, and automatically attach notes/video logs back to the patient's medical record.
• Pros: Keeps your brand front-and-center; maintains continuity of care for your loyal clients; respects the existing VCPR cleanly because you already know the patient.
• Cons: Monthly subscription overhead; requires your clients to adopt your specific app or portal.

3. The DIY Stack (Best for Low Cost & Total Control)

If you are an independent mobile vet or starting a niche consulting service and want to keep fixed software costs near zero, you can cobble together a custom workflow.

• The Blueprint: Use an independent scheduler like Calendly or Acuity Scheduling , process payments via Stripe or PayPal , and host the video via secure Zoom links.
• Pros: Incredibly cheap (usually just standard merchant transaction fees plus a basic scheduling tool); total ownership over your client communication.
• Cons: Fragmented user experience for the pet owner; no automated tie-in to official medical record software—you must manually copy-paste notes into your archive.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding:

To help narrow this down, tell me:

• Are you looking to moonlight/freelance on an existing network, or run telemedicine for your own dedicated client base?
• Do you currently use a PIMS (Practice Information Management System) that you need the software to integrate with?

If you're a veterinarian looking to offer telemedicine directly to your own clients, rather than work as a veterinarian on a consumer marketplace, I’d prioritize a practice-branded platform that integrates with your PIMS.

My shortlist

A recent 2026 comparison notes that TeleVet has transitioned to Otto, with integrations including Cornerstone, AVImark, Impromed, eVetPractice and ezyVet.

What I'd choose

For a typical small-animal practice: Otto.

The important distinction is that you want telemedicine to feel like an extension of your veterinary practice, not like you're sending clients to another veterinary service. I'd look for:

• Client self-scheduling from your website
• Your practice's branding
• Two-way video
• Automatic appointment reminders
• Payment collection
• Medical-record documentation
• PIMS integration
• Ability to conduct follow-ups/rechecks
• Photo/video upload from the client
• Consent and telemedicine documentation
• Easy escalation to an in-person appointment
• Good mobile experience for the client

That workflow is much more valuable than simply having a video-chat function.

One major caveat: VCPR

The platform is actually secondary to the legal model you're going to use.

Federal rules generally don't permit a VCPR to be established solely through telemedicine for purposes governed by the federal definition; once an appropriate VCPR exists, telemedicine can be used to maintain it. U.S. Food and Drug Administration State law can be more permissive, however, so the rules where the patient is located matter.

If you're practicing in New Jersey, this is particularly interesting: NJ has specific veterinary telemedicine regulations. A veterinarian providing telemedicine to a patient in NJ must hold an NJ veterinary license, and the rules require interactive, real-time, two-way communication with a video component in the circumstances specified by the regulation.

So before choosing a platform, I'd decide whether your service is going to be:

1. Telemedicine for your existing patients — rechecks, chronic disease management, behavioral/nutrition consultations, medication follow-ups, etc.
2. New-client virtual consultations — where establishing the VCPR remotely may or may not be permitted.
3. Teletriage — deciding whether an animal needs emergency/in-person care.
4. A separate virtual-only veterinary business — potentially a very different regulatory and business model.

The AAHA/AVMA telehealth guidance specifically recommends thinking about platform selection, workflow, marketing and monetization rather than treating telehealth as simply "putting Zoom into the practice."

If you tell me your state(s), whether you're solo or have a practice, what PIMS you use (ezyVet, Cornerstone, AVImark, etc.), and whether you want to see your existing clients or acquire new telemedicine clients, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare their current pricing, features, and workflow.

So before choosing a platform, I'd decide whether your service is going to be:

Choosing the "best" telemedicine platform depends entirely on how you want to practice —whether you want to build a flexible side-hustle/independent virtual practice using an established marketplace, or integrate virtual care directly into your existing brick-and-mortar clinic's workflow.

The top platforms on the market cater to these two distinct approaches:

• Vetster (Best for independence, side-hustle, and marketplace-driven clients)
• Otto (Best for established practices wanting a branded, integrated client experience)
• GuardianVets (Best for after-hours triage, overflow, and emergency support)

1. Vetster (The Marketplace Model)

If you want to set your own hours, pick your own pricing, and draw from a massive pre-existing pool of pet parents looking for virtual care, Vetster is the industry leader.

• How it works: It functions like an Airbnb or Rover for virtual vet care. Pet parents search for licensed vets by location, availability, or specialty and book directly through their platform.
• The Pros: Zero overhead to set up a tech stack, built-in client acquisition, integrated payment processing, and flexible scheduling. Great for supplemental income or a fully remote lifestyle.
• The Cons: You are operating on their marketplace, so you play by their fee structures and platform rules. VCPR (Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship) rules still apply based on where the pet is located, meaning you must navigate prescribing limitations depending on state/provincial laws.

2. Otto (The Practice-Branded / Workflow Model)

If you run or work in an established clinic and want to offer telemedicine as an extension of your current practice, Otto is a powerhouse.

• How it works: It acts as an all-in-one comprehensive customer experience and workflow platform that syncs directly with major PIMS (Practice Information Management Systems) like ezyVet, Cornerstone, AVImark, and Neo.
• The Pros: It keeps your branding front-and-center rather than sending clients to a third-party marketplace. It includes automated text messaging, direct booking, payment capture, and even AI-powered tools that transcribe and draft SOAP notes to push straight back into your patient records.
• The Cons: It is built for clinic integration, meaning it's a heavier software investment and less suited for a solo freelancer just looking to pick up random virtual consults.

3. GuardianVets (The Triage & After-Hours Model)

If your primary goal in doing telemedicine is handling after-hours calls, reducing emergency burnout, or providing coverage when your clinic is closed, GuardianVets is worth evaluating.

• How it works: It provides a hybrid of software and live triage staff (often staffed by veterinary professionals) to handle client call overflow and remote triage 24/7.
• The Pros: Protects your work-life balance by intercepting frantic late-night calls and determining what is a true ER emergency versus what can wait until morning.
• The Cons: It’s more of an extension/answering service paired with telehealth capability rather than a DIY video-consult app.

Quick Decision Guide

• Choose Vetster if you want to launch quickly on your own terms without needing an existing clinic backend.
• Choose Otto if you want to scale a brick-and-mortar practice with seamless PIMS syncing and automated clinic workflows.

To help narrow this down, tell me:

• Are you looking to start an independent side-gigs/remote practice , or add telehealth to an existing clinic?
• What PIMS software (if any) are you currently using?

If you’re a veterinarian looking to personally offer paid telemedicine consultations, rather than just add video visits to an existing clinic, my first choice in 2026 would be Vetster.

My ranking

1. Vetster — best overall for an independent telemedicine practice

Vetster is purpose-built for veterinary virtual care. You can create your own professional profile, set your availability, conduct video consultations, communicate with clients, maintain medical records, accept uploaded photos/videos, and handle prescriptions where permitted. It also gives you access to a marketplace of pet owners rather than requiring you to generate all your own patients. Vetster says more than 6,000 veterinary professionals are using the platform.

2. Airvet — best if you want something lightweight

Airvet is particularly interesting if you're looking to work part-time or monetize otherwise-unused hours. Its veterinarian network lets you set your own schedule, provides the virtual-care interface, and pays you directly. Airvet reports about 3,000 vets in its network.

3. Petriage — best if you already own/run a clinic

Petriage is more of a "brick-and-click" extension of an existing veterinary practice. It supports synchronous and asynchronous consultations, teletriage, remote monitoring, payments, and integration with several practice-management systems. Importantly, you control your pricing and client relationship.

One important caveat: VCPR

The platform is actually the easy part. Your state veterinary practice act determines what you can legally do through telemedicine, including whether you can establish a VCPR remotely and prescribe.

The AVMA/AAHA guidelines specifically emphasize checking your state requirements before implementing telemedicine.

If you're practicing in Texas, this is especially worth examining because the state's telemedicine/VCPR landscape has changed recently. A 2026 review reports that a Fifth Circuit decision affected the rules surrounding electronic VCPR establishment in Texas.

What I'd choose

If your goal is:

• "I want to build my own virtual veterinary practice" → Vetster
• "I want to make some extra money doing telehealth when I'm free" → Airvet
• "I already have a clinic and want telemedicine integrated into my existing client/patient workflow" → Petriage

If you tell me what state you're licensed in, whether you already own a practice, and whether you want to see your own clients vs. get clients through a marketplace, I can do a much more useful comparison—including fees/revenue split, malpractice/VCPR handling, prescribing, medical records, payments, integrations, and which one I'd actually pick for your situation.

Choosing the "best" telemedicine platform depends entirely on how you want to practice—whether you want to run virtual care for your existing clinic's clients, or join a massive marketplace to pick up on-demand virtual shifts.

The top veterinary telemedicine software options are categorized below by how they fit different practice models:

1. Otto (Best for Private Practices & Workflow Consolidation)
   • What it does: Formerly TeleVet, Otto is a comprehensive client engagement and workflow platform. It allows you to offer white-labeled, brand-consistent virtual visits directly to your clinic's active clients.
   • Why it’s great: It integrates deeply with major Practice Information Management Systems (PIMS) like Cornerstone, AVImark, ezyVet, and Neo, meaning appointment info, payments, and messaging live in one place without jumping across systems.
2. Vetster (Best for Freelance, Independent, or On-Demand DVMs)
   • What it does: Vetster operates as a massive marketplace connecting licensed veterinarians directly with pet parents searching for remote care.
   • Why it’s great: If you want to set your own hours, work from home on your own terms, and let a platform handle marketing, booking, client acquisition, and video tech infrastructure, Vetster is the industry giant here. It includes VetsterRx for seamless prescription creation and direct-to-home fulfillment (in the US).
3. Petriage (Best for Tele-Triage & Client Retention)
   • What it does: Focuses heavily on a branded triage approach. Pet parents use an AI-driven symptom checker before the call, giving you structured data before you even hop on the video.
   • Why it’s great: It helps filter out non-emergencies and seamlessly routes true emergencies to local physical care, protecting your time and liability.
4. Covetrus Pulse or Digitail (Best All-in-One Cloud PIMS with Built-in Digital Care)
   • What they do: If you are starting a fresh practice or upgrading your cloud infrastructure, modern cloud PIMS like Digitail or Covetrus Pulse have native client apps, integrated communication, and virtual care modules built right into the ecosystem.
   • Why they're great: They eliminate the "Frankenstack" of paying for separate video tools, booking software, and medical records.

A Quick Regulatory Reminder

Before committing to a platform, double-check your state or provincial veterinary board's stance on the VCPR (Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship) . Some jurisdictions strictly require an initial in-person physical exam before you can legally diagnose and prescribe medication via telemedicine, whereas others allow virtual VCPR establishment under specific conditions.

To help narrow down which system fits you best, tell me:

• Are you looking to add telemedicine to an existing brick-and-mortar clinic or do freelance/independent virtual work?
• What PIMS (Practice Management Software) are you currently using, if any?

The "best" platform depends entirely on how you want to practice telemedicine : whether you want to join an existing marketplace to pick up extra flexible hours, or if you want a branded, integrated tool for your own independent patients/clinic.

The top veterinary telemedicine platforms are divided by use-case:

1. Best Marketplace to Find Clients:

If you want a turnkey solution where you don’t have to market yourself or build a website from scratch, Vetster is the dominant marketplace.

• How it works: Pet parents log on, search for an available licensed vet, and book a video/chat consultation. Vetster handles the booking, secure video interface, and payment processing.
• Best for: Veterinarians looking for a flexible side-hustle, remote work, or a way to supplement income on their own schedule without overhead.
• Pros: Built-in client base, easy-to-use interface, handles scheduling and liability frameworks.
• Cons: You share a percentage of your fee with the platform, and you are building their brand rather than a standalone practice.

2. Best for Independent Practice & Client Engagement: Otto (formerly TeleVet)

If you run your own practice (or mobile/independent service) and want to offer telemedicine integrated directly with your existing client communications and records.

• How it works: Otto functions as an all-in-one client experience and telemedicine platform that integrates with major Practice Information Management Software (PIMS) like Cornerstone, Neo, AVImark, and ezyVet.
• Best for: Practicing DVMs who want to capture revenue for remote follow-ups, post-op rechecks, and triage with their existing clientele.
• Pros: Keeps your branding front-and-center, syncs communication and notes smoothly into standard PIMS workflows.
• Cons: Requires a monthly subscription fee and onboarding setup rather than being a free "plug-and-play" marketplace.

3. Best Alternative White-Label/Communication Layers: PetDesk or Anipanion

• PetDesk is heavily focused on the communication and app layer, making it seamless for clients to request virtual care, two-way text, and manage reminders.
• Anipanion specializes in mobile-friendly app experiences designed for surgery rechecks, triage, and virtual consults directly tied to a clinic workflow.

A Critical Legal Reminder Before Choosing

Before committing to any platform or setting your pricing, double-check your state or regional board's regulations regarding a VCPR (Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship) . Some jurisdictions strictly require an in-person physical exam to first establish a VCPR before you can legally diagnose or prescribe via telemedicine, whereas others allow virtual VCPRs under specific conditions.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• Are you looking to moonlight on a flexible marketplace or build your own independent/mobile brand?
• What Practice Information Management Software (PIMS) do you currently use (if any)?

If you're a veterinarian looking to personally offer paid telemedicine consultations, rather than just add video visits to an existing brick-and-mortar practice, I’d put Vetster at the top of the list right now.

My recommendation

1. Vetster — best overall for an independent telemedicine practice

Vetster is purpose-built around veterinary virtual care rather than being a generic video platform. It gives you:

• Your own veterinarian profile and availability
• Appointment scheduling and video consultations
• Secure client messaging
• Medical records and notes
• Client-uploaded photos/videos
• Prescription functionality where legally permitted
• A marketplace that can bring you new clients
• Support for 20+ species
• The ability to set your own schedule

Vetster says more than 6,000 veterinary professionals are using the platform.

The big advantage is that you don't have to build the entire telemedicine infrastructure and then figure out how to acquire clients. You can use the marketplace or use it as the infrastructure for your own virtual practice.

2. Airvet — best if you want relatively easy, short consultations

Airvet is particularly interesting if you want to do telehealth/teletriage as a flexible side practice. It lets veterinarians set their own schedules, pays them directly, and reports that its average calls are under 10 minutes. Airvet currently says it has about 3,000 veterinarians in its network.

I'd favor Airvet over Vetster if your model is more "I want to pick up virtual cases in my spare time" than "I'm building my own telemedicine practice."

3. Otto — best if you already have a veterinary practice

Otto is a different proposition. It's primarily a veterinary practice communication/workflow platform, with telemedicine built in. It includes messaging, forms, online booking, payments, PIMS integration, AI scribing, and telemedicine appointments. Its current pricing is roughly $350–$1,000+/month depending on the practice.

So if you're running your own clinic and want telemedicine integrated into your existing client/patient workflow, I'd seriously consider Otto.

The important issue: VCPR

The platform is actually the second question I'd answer. The first is what you legally want to do through telemedicine.

For example, Ohio's Veterinary Medical Licensing Board currently states that a veterinarian using telehealth must establish a valid VCPR and perform appropriate evaluation/history consistent with the traditional standard of care.

And platforms themselves put the responsibility on the veterinarian to comply with the law of the jurisdiction where they're practicing. Vetster explicitly says that whether you can diagnose/prescribe virtually depends on the applicable jurisdiction and VCPR rules.

That's particularly important if you're planning to see clients across multiple states.

What I'd choose

If you tell me (1) what state you're licensed in, (2) whether you already have a physical practice, (3) dogs/cats vs exotics, and (4) whether you want to prescribe, I can narrow this down considerably and compare Vetster vs Airvet vs Otto vs building your own setup, including fees, payment processing, medical records, prescribing, PIMS integration, client acquisition, and multi-state practice.

Choosing the best telemedicine platform for your veterinary workflow depends on how you plan to practice —whether you want to launch an independent virtual care service, brand an app for your existing brick-and-mortar clinic, or contract with a national on-demand telehealth network.

The top veterinary telemedicine options on the market sort cleanly into three categories based on your business model:

• Otto (formerly TeleVet) — Best for established clinics looking for an all-in-one client experience and communication suite. It features deep PIMS integrations (Cornerstone, AVImark, ezyVet, etc.), integrated scheduling, text/video/phone options, and direct payment processing. It keeps care tied tightly to your existing patient database.
• Anipanion — Best for private practices that want a white-labeled, custom-branded mobile app. It supports video and live chat, records SOAP notes, and features strong read-and-write-back integration with major PIMS like IDEXX Cornerstone to cut down on manual data entry.
• Petriage — Best if you want a robust system centered around a smart teletriage symptom-checker. Petriage allows clients to screen symptoms first, and then routes non-emergent cases directly into your virtual consultation queue with full PIMS syncing.
• Vetster — Best if you want to operate as an independent contractor on an open marketplace. Instead of bringing your own clients, you plug into Vetster's consumer-facing booking network to pick up virtual appointment hours on your own schedule.
• Doxy.me — Best for a lightweight, plug-and-play "virtual waiting room" approach. While built primarily for human medicine, it is HIPAA-compliant, highly affordable, and lets solo vets send a quick custom video link via text or email without forcing clients to download a dedicated proprietary app.

To help narrow down the ideal fit, tell me:

• Are you looking to see your own clinic's existing patients or pick up on-demand marketplace leads?
• What Practice Management Software (PIMS) do you currently use?

If you’re a veterinarian looking to offer telemedicine directly to your own clients, my top pick would be Petriage rather than a consumer marketplace like Vetster.

My shortlist

Petriage is probably the best fit if your goal is "I have a veterinary practice and want to add telemedicine to it." It allows you to invite your own clients, conduct eConsults/eChecks, share photos and videos, and keep communications attached to the patient's medical record. It also integrates with several veterinary PIMS systems.

Petriage currently advertises a Premium package at $199.99/month, including teleconsultation, remote monitoring, 24/7 Petriage Live, and PIMS integration.

Vetster is the better choice if you're trying to create a standalone telemedicine business. Its veterinarian platform provides video, messaging, scheduling, medical records and client-uploaded photos/videos, and it has a large existing marketplace of pet owners. Vetster says more than 6,000 veterinary professionals have chosen the platform.

One important issue: VCPR

If you're practicing in Ontario, this is particularly important. The College of Veterinarians of Ontario states that telemedicine is permitted within a VCPR, and that the same professional/legal obligations apply as with in-person veterinary medicine. You also have to determine whether telemedicine is clinically appropriate for each case.

So I would choose a platform based on your business model, not simply which has the nicest video conferencing:

• Existing brick-and-mortar practice → Petriage
• Independent virtual practice / want marketplace exposure → Vetster
• Want telehealth plus broader client-engagement software → AllyDVM

If you tell me your province, whether you already have a physical practice, what PIMS you use (e.g. Cornerstone, ezyVet, AVImark, etc.), and whether you want to see your existing clients or acquire new online clients, I can narrow this down to the best 1–2 options and compare cost, VCPR support, prescribing, payments, records, video, and PIMS integration.