Get to Know: Pawp

I’ve been following Pawp for a few months now and was so excited to get the chance to learn more - as we all are using telehealth for everyday doctor visits, who’s doing it for pets? Well, Pawp is! Here’s more about this absolutely fantastic (and super affordable, btw) service. Visit Pawp.com to sign up.

Tell us a little bit about Pawp's Digital Health Clinic - when did it kick off?

It all really kicked off when I got my dog Chelsea (who’s now more famous than me). As a pet parent, and especially as a millennial, you want only the best for your pet. We started Pawp as an e-commerce site that put your pet’s health first. We’ve worked alongside vets from the very beginning to digitize pets’ health histories so pet parents have the information they need to make the best choices for their pets. The move further into the health space was natural. I had access to companies with a lot of veterinary partners. We are excited to help people in real time and provide vet care not everyone may be able to afford or have access to.

Our 24/7 digital pet clinic allows you to chat with a vet about any question or emergency. Is your normal vet closed? Are you not sure it’s worth the cost of an emergency visit? Do you want a second opinion? A Pawp Clinic membership ($10/monthly, $60 annual) buys you the peace of mind of knowing you always have an expert in an emergency and a trusted source when you need an answer.

Do you have a network of vets, or can pet parents choose their own vet and sign them up? Can pet parents use pet insurance for bills?

At the moment, we work with our own network of licensed vets. We have them coordinated to run day and night for the 24/7 service. That said, it’s always a possibility in the future. We’re really focused on providing the best end-to-end experience for our users and at present we’re happy with the results we’re seeing — and so are our members, who have been very supportive. Unfortunately, as the only bill is accessing the vets, pet parents cannot currently use their pet insurance.

What's your favorite thing about running a company that caters to pet parents?

When we were in the office, it was definitely always having dogs (or the odd cat) running around. Pawp is very much for pet parents, by pet parents, so it was fun to have a rotating cast of animals. Now we have a lot of it on our video calls. But really the most fun part of being in a pet company is knowing you’re doing your part to help the purest and kindest souls on the planet live their best and healthiest lives. What’s more rewarding than that?

Do you keep medical records, or is that still kept internally at the vet clinic?

As a part of our service, we can help digitize your pet’s health certificate, making your pet’s health history visible to you and our vets. This is entirely up to you though, if you have any privacy concerns. As a Pawp Clinic member, you’ll have access to your past conversation history (as will your vet) so we can not only avoid redundant questions, but also help tailor health advice to your pet.  

Any news for Pawp in the future, especially in light of COVID?

COVID has created a lot of uncertainty, but it’s also made something clear: We need more digital health resources. There are places in America where the nearest 24/7 clinic can be a couple of hours away. And as many vet practices shuttered their doors, vet access only became more limited. The vets that stayed open were inundated with cases, many of which could have been solved over a digital vet visit. We’ve spoken to a lot of vets about it; our service is meant to be a complement to what they do. The advice you may receive is that you need to get to a vet ER in person. You may also find out it’s quite normal and save yourself a $250 bill. Sometimes you need assurance or help talking yourself through something. You never want to take risks with your pet’s health. Not every online visit will solve your problem, but it will arm you with the information you need to solve your problem. And that’s where we can help.

Small businesses need our help every day, but especially now during COVID-19. If you'd like to see your pet biz here or if you’d like to submit a business you love, holler at me via email. We would like to highlight small businesses committed to diversity or are women-led, who operate with kindness and transparency.