Convenience: 5/5 Quality of Care: 4.8/5 Scope of Care: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Having a dog has never been more expensive. That’s especially true if you want to give your dog the best care possible, with the most nutritious food, the best toys, those advanced supplements, and, oh right, vet care.
The average cost of vet services jumped 7.8% from this time last year — well beyond the rate of inflation. The average checkup appointment went from $148 to around $200 between 2024 and 2025, and when you add vaccines, bloodwork, and any necessary medications to that bill, you may just need to take out a small loan.
And that’s just for an annual checkup. What happens when your dog eats a bag of chocolate chips? Or wakes up with a weird, gooey eye? Or won’t stop scratching? If you’re like most modern dog owners, you start to weigh the cost of a vet visit with the likelihood that a vet’s help is actually needed. That’s a tough call to make, and a wrong decision can have serious consequences.
It’s these exact situations where Dutch vet care brings something unique and — for most — incredibly valuable. This virtual vet service has a surprisingly affordable annual membership that allows unlimited virtual visits with a real, US-licensed vet and prescription access (in most states). In other words, it takes the debate out of those “Is a vet necessary?” moments.
I had a chance to try Dutch with the help of my senior dog, Ragz. Keep reading to find out what sets this apart from the other virtual vet services I’ve tried, and which owners it is best suited for.
Here’s the Issue with Most Virtual Vet Care Services
Virtual vet care has become widely accepted in recent years, and, as the cost of traditional vet services skyrockets, is increasingly popular as a go-to option for worried pet owners. The trick these days isn’t finding a service, but finding the right service with the features that actually make a difference for your pet’s care and your finances.
Chewy, for instance, offers free “vet chats” to anyone. But those chats are actually with a vet tech, which means that if your pet needs more advanced care advice, prescriptions, or something more specific, you have to schedule a follow-up with a real vet (which will cost you). These days, you also need to navigate through services that are AI-based, not knowing if your concerns are being addressed by a real human being or the cumulative knowledge of the internet.
Other virtual vet services offer low-cost, pay-by-appointment options with qualified vets, but many of these can’t prescribe medications. For that, you’d need to follow up with your local vet, which means paying for the appointment you were trying to avoid in the first place, on top of the fee you’ve just paid for a virtual consultation. Many services that are able to prescribe medication charge extra for those kinds of appointments.
Some plans offer subscription-based services where you pay up front for a certain number of visits per year, but these are often very limited in quantity and do not accommodate multi-pet households.
What Is Dutch and How Is It Different?
Dutch takes a fresh approach to virtual vet care. It offers unlimited access to vet advice from real vets who can prescribe medications and schedule follow-ups — all for a very affordable price.
Currently, a membership plan with Dutch costs around the same as a traditional veterinary consultation (depending on your location), and includes unlimited video vet visits for up to five different pets for a full year. That’s one fee, unlimited video consults, for up to five pets.
The tradeoff is that each video visit is only 10 minutes long. But with unlimited follow-ups, you can always schedule another appointment if you have more questions. Plus, the vet can prescribe medication if needed. You can also message the vet you saw if you have additional questions or if anything comes up after the appointment. Through this same message feature, you will receive post-visit notes, treatment instructions, and links to helpful resources.
A quick note: The ability to get prescriptions through virtual appointments varies by state. Your pet also has to have been seen by your local, in-person vet sometime in the last twelve months to qualify, in many cases. While this service can’t fully replace your local vet, it can, in many cases, reduce your annual vet bill substantially.
Who Is Dutch Best Suited For?
Dutch offers vet services for both dogs and cats of all ages.
It is an especially good option for pets with chronic conditions that may bring up frequent questions or a frequent need for follow-up visits. Senior dogs that are more likely to suffer from ongoing medical issues, dogs with allergies, and dogs that just seem to get themselves into trouble more often than normal would all be good candidates for a Dutch membership.
Even more so, Dutch is a great option for anxious owners, especially those without a lot of extra funds to throw around. With their membership, you get same-day appointments and 24/7 messaging to take the worry and the financial sting out of surprise medical issues. If you often find yourself with nagging doggy health questions or issues you think might be worth a vet visit but probably aren’t worth $200, then this service is worth it for the peace of mind alone.
