What is Dutch and what can they do for my dog?

Dutch is a telehealth veterinary platform that connects pet owners with licensed vets for video and messaging consultations. Dutch vets can review bloodwork, prescribe medications like Apoquel, gabapentin, trazodone, and prednisone, and manage ongoing chronic conditions without in-person visits. They operate in all 50 US states.

What conditions can an online vet treat?

Online vets handle allergies, skin conditions, anxiety and behavioral issues, chronic pain management, thyroid disease, diabetes management, urinary issues, and follow-up for many diagnosed conditions. They cannot manage emergencies, conditions requiring physical examination or imaging, or new symptoms with no prior diagnosis.

When do I still need an in-person vet visit?

You need an in-person visit for: emergencies and acute illness, new symptoms with no prior diagnosis, conditions requiring physical examination (lumps, pain localization, cardiac auscultation), imaging (X-ray, ultrasound), surgical procedures, and any situation where your pet's condition is deteriorating. If in doubt, go in person.

Can an Online Vet Read My Dog's Bloodwork and Prescribe Medication?

Q: Can an online vet read my dog's bloodwork results?

Yes. Online vets can review bloodwork results you share during a consultation, explain what each flagged value means, assess urgency, and recommend next steps. They cannot perform a physical examination, but for interpreting lab results and managing ongoing conditions, a telehealth consultation is often adequate.

Q: Can an online vet prescribe medication for my dog?

Yes, in most US states, online vets can prescribe medication once a valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is established through a telehealth consultation. Dutch, for example, can prescribe for allergies, anxiety, pain management, and many chronic conditions without requiring an in-person visit first.

Q: How do I share my dog's bloodwork with an online vet?

Most telehealth platforms let you upload documents directly during intake or in the chat. Have your bloodwork as a PDF or clear photo. VetLens can help you organize and format your pet's records so they are easy to share with any provider.

The short answer

✓Review bloodwork results — yes, you share the file and they explain every flagged value
✓Prescribe medication — yes, for most conditions once a VCPR is established
✓Recommend next steps — yes, including when to go in-person
✗Physical examination — not possible; still need in-person for new diagnoses requiring exam
✗Emergencies — always go to an in-person ER for acute serious illness

If your dog's bloodwork came back with flagged values and you can't get a vet appointment for two weeks, or you're managing a chronic condition and want to adjust medications without a $200 office visit every time — online vet consultations are a legitimate option that most pet owners don't know about.

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What Online Vets Can Actually Do With Bloodwork

Telehealth vets work differently from in-person vets — they can't listen to your dog's heart or feel a lump — but reviewing and interpreting bloodwork is almost entirely information-based, which makes it well-suited for remote consultation.

When you share your dog's bloodwork with an online vet, they can:

✓ Explain each flagged value

What it measures, what elevated or low means, how significant the abnormality is, and what conditions could cause it.

✓ Assess urgency

Whether the results need same-day attention, a follow-up appointment in the next week or two, or simple monitoring.

✓ Recommend next diagnostic steps

Whether additional tests (urinalysis, imaging, specialist referral) make sense given the results.

✓ Prescribe medications for covered conditions

If your dog has a known diagnosis and the bloodwork fits that pattern, they can adjust or initiate treatment.

✓ Advise on diet and supplement changes

Immediate actionable steps while you wait for a follow-up.

✓ Connect you with a specialist

Some platforms have internal medicine and dermatology specialists on staff.

Prescribing Online: How the VCPR Works

In the US, a vet can only prescribe medication once a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) has been established. Historically this required an in-person visit, but most states have updated their laws to allow telehealth VCPRs — meaning a video or messaging consultation is sufficient.

Dutch operates in all 50 US states and establishes a VCPR through their initial consultation. After that, they can prescribe a wide range of medications — including controlled substances in many states — and manage ongoing conditions remotely.

Common medications Dutch and similar platforms routinely prescribe:

Apoquel (oclacitinib)

Gabapentin

Trazodone

Prednisone

Methimazole

Fluoxetine

Metronidazole

Cerenia

Rimadyl (carprofen)

Trilostane

Mirtazapine

Doxycycline

What Still Requires an In-Person Visit

Online vets are honest about their limits. These situations still require going in:

✗ Emergencies and acute serious illness

Difficulty breathing, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected toxin ingestion, inability to urinate — always go to an ER.

✗ New diagnoses requiring physical examination

A vet needs to feel a mass, auscultate heart sounds, or palpate an abdomen to properly diagnose many conditions.

✗ Imaging

X-rays, ultrasound, and CT require in-person equipment.

✗ Surgery and dental procedures

Cannot be done remotely.

✗ Severely abnormal bloodwork with symptoms

If your dog is showing serious symptoms alongside critical values, in-person evaluation is needed — don't wait for a telehealth slot.

The Best Use Cases for Online Vet Bloodwork Consultations

Online vet consultations are most useful when:

You got results but can't get a follow-up appointment for 1–2 weeks and want to understand urgency and whether you should push for a sooner in-person slot.
Your dog has a known chronic condition (allergies, hypothyroidism, anxiety, arthritis) and you need a prescription refill or dosage adjustment based on recent monitoring bloodwork.
You want a second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan before committing to an expensive specialist referral.
You're managing a medication that requires monitoring (like methimazole for hyperthyroid cats or trilostane for Cushing's) and the follow-up bloodwork looks stable.
Your regular vet is closed and you need guidance on whether something can wait until Monday or needs an ER visit tonight.

How to Prepare Your Dog's Bloodwork for an Online Consultation

The quality of a telehealth consultation improves significantly when you arrive prepared. Before your online vet appointment:

Have the actual bloodwork document ready to share

A PDF from your vet's portal or a clear photo of the printout. The vet needs to see the actual values and reference ranges, not just a summary. VetLens can help you organize this into a clean, shareable format.

Note which values are flagged and any symptoms

Write down: which values the H/L flags, when the bloodwork was taken, and any symptoms your dog has shown — lethargy, vomiting, increased thirst, weight change. This saves time and helps the vet focus.

List current medications and supplements

Many medications affect bloodwork values. A complete medication list helps the vet distinguish drug effects from disease effects.

Bring previous bloodwork if you have it

Trends over time are much more informative than a single data point. If you have results from 6–12 months ago showing the same values were normal, that context matters.

Upload your dog's records to VetLens first

VetLens organizes your pet's bloodwork, lab reports, and vet notes in one place — so you arrive at any consultation, online or in-person, with a complete picture ready to share.

Organize My Dog's Records

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an online vet read my dog's bloodwork results?

Yes. You share the document during the consultation and the vet explains each flagged value, assesses urgency, and recommends next steps.

Can an online vet prescribe medication for my dog?

Yes, in most US states once a VCPR is established via telehealth. Dutch operates in all 50 states and can prescribe for allergies, anxiety, pain, thyroid disease, and many other conditions.

How do I share my dog's bloodwork with an online vet?

Upload the PDF or a clear photo during intake or in the chat window. Most platforms accept documents before the appointment so the vet can review them in advance.

When do I still need an in-person vet?

Emergencies, new diagnoses requiring physical exam, imaging, surgery, and any acute serious illness. If your dog is deteriorating, don't wait for a telehealth slot — go to an ER.

How much does a Dutch online vet consultation cost?

Dutch charges a consultation fee (varies by service type) plus medication cost if prescribed. It is typically significantly less than an in-person office visit for the same issue.