Do you have a question about your pet’s health that just can’t wait until your vet’s office opens? Have you noticed some concerning symptoms in your furry friend but aren’t sure if it requires an urgent care visit? As a pet owner, having round-the-clock access to veterinary expertise can provide invaluable peace of mind.
Nationwide’s innovative VetHelpline® service offers pet insurance members unlimited 24/7 virtual veterinary consultations via phone, video, or in-app chat. This on-demand support provides convenient access to professional guidance whenever you have a question or concern about your pet’s health or behavior.
An Overview of Nationwide's VetHelpline® Service
VetHelpline® is a cutting-edge telehealth service incorporated into Nationwide pet insurance plans. It was designed to extend veterinary care beyond the walls of a clinic, providing members with real-time support when issues pop up.
Key Features Offering Anytime Access
- 24/7 availability: Veterinary professionals are standing by all day, every day—even holidays!—to address your pet questions or concerns.
- Unlimited use: There are no caps on how often Nationwide members can use VetHelpline®. You get truly unlimited veterinary consultations.
Connecting Pet Owners with Licensed Vets
- Powered by FirstVet: Nationwide has partnered with the telehealth company FirstVet to provide licensed veterinary support through VetHelpline®. Their team of vets across the U.S. collaborate to offer knowledgeable guidance.
- Access via app: The VetHelpline® app provides the gateway to initiate a consultation. You can opt for a written chat, video call, or voice call with a vet.
Key Benefits of Virtual Veterinary Care
- Convenience: No need to schedule appointments or haul your pet into the vet's office. Connect with a veterinary professional from the comfort of home.
- Immediate assistance: Get real-time guidance on pet concerns instead of waiting days for an appointment. VetHelpline® is there when you need it.
- Peace of mind: Have confidence knowing you can get professional veterinary advice for your pet anytime, anywhere.
Accessing On-Demand Support Through the VetHelpline® App
Taking advantage of VetHelpline’s 24/7 veterinary access is quick and easy in just a few steps.
Downloading and Setting Up the App
- Download on your device: Search for “VetHelpline” on the App Store or Google Play to install the free app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Create an account: Open the app and enter your name, email, and password to set up a secure account.
- Log in: Use your email and password to sign in each time you need to initiate a consultation.
Preparing for Your Virtual Appointment
- Have information ready: Note details such as your pet’s symptoms, medical history, medications, etc. This will help the vet provide accurate guidance.
- Verify insurance details: Confirm you have your Nationwide policy number, member ID, and other relevant information available to share with the vet.
- Pick a consultation method: Decide if you want to connect via video call, voice call, or in-app chat based on your situation.
- Wait for a vet: Once you request a consultation, you may need to wait a few minutes for the next available veterinary professional.
Connecting with a Licensed Veterinarian
- Describe the issue: Explain your pet’s condition, health question, or behavior concern to the vet when connected.
- Follow guidance: The veterinarian will suggest next steps to address your pet’s needs or determine if urgent care is required.
- Share follow-ups: Update the vet on how your pet is responding to any prescribed treatment so they can modify guidance accordingly.
The Types of Consultations Offered Through VetHelpline®
VetHelpline® offers veterinary guidance for a wide range of pet health and behavior issues. Here are some examples of the virtual consultations you can access.
Answering General Pet Health Questions
For everyday questions about your pet’s wellbeing, VetHelpline® provides a convenient way to get reliable guidance from a professional:
- Dietary concerns: Ask about nutrition, supplements, food allergies, obesity, and other diet-related topics.
- Preventive care: Seek input on recommended vaccines, preventatives like flea/tick/heartworm medication, dental care, and wellness exams.
- Common conditions: Discuss minor issues like upset stomach, constipation, limping, hot spots, etc.
- Behavior problems: Get tips on curbing barking, biting, anxiety, inappropriate urination, and more behavioral concerns.
- Parasites: Learn about treating and preventing fleas, ticks, intestinal worms, mites, and other parasites.
- Skin irritation: Figure out what’s causing licking, scratching, rashes, bald spots, and other dermatologic issues.
The vets can provide tailored guidance on routine pet care topics so you can keep your furry friends happy and healthy.
Getting Urgent Care Advice
In emergency situations, quick access to veterinary expertise can be critical. VetHelpline® empowers you to identify serious symptoms and decide next steps:
- Recognizing emergencies: Vets can help you identify signs of a real emergency like difficulty breathing, seizures, poisoning, trauma, etc. that require ER veterinary care.
- Assessing urgent issues: For concerning symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lameness, or lethargy, vets can perform triage over the phone to determine if immediate treatment is needed.
- Finding emergency hospitals: If ER care is required, vets can help locate the closest veterinary emergency hospital and let them know you’re on the way.
- Discussing ER costs: Vets can give estimates on emergency vet costs to help you prepare and use your Nationwide insurance coverage most effectively.
Having 24/7 access to veterinary professionals via VetHelpline® provides a valuable resource when fast action is critical for your pet.
Following Up on Recommended Treatments
The VetHelpline® vets aren’t just available for one-off questions. You can also use them for ongoing consultations related to your pet’s diagnosis:
- Checking treatment progress: Discuss how your pet is responding to prescribed medication, supplements, therapeutic diets, or other treatments recommended by your family vet.
- Modifying guidance: Based on your pet’s follow-up symptoms and condition, the VetHelpline® vet may suggest altering treatment approaches for better outcomes.
- Providing referral support: If your pet needs to see a specialist like a veterinary dermatologist or surgeon, a VetHelpline® vet can help explain the referral process and what to expect.
- Answering additional questions: As you manage your pet’s care, connect with VetHelpline® anytime new questions come up so you can continue to make informed decisions.
Ongoing access to the same veterinary professionals enables continuous monitoring and adjustments to optimize your pet’s treatment.
Why VetHelpline® is an Invaluable Resource for Pet Owners
From urgent care advice to routine health questions, having direct access to experienced veterinary guidance can vastly improve your ability to care for the needs of your cherished companion. Here are some of the top benefits of Nationwide's VetHelpline® service for pet owners:
Convenience and immediacy: There’s no waiting days or weeks for an appointment when you can connect with a licensed vet in minutes via app. VetHelpline® eliminates the hassles of in-office veterinary visits.
Trusted guidance: You can be confident you’re getting accurate advice from qualified veterinary professionals who have access to your pet’s health records and history.
Peace of mind: Having 24/7 access to veterinary consultations provides comfort knowing you can get professional support no matter when your pet needs it.
Improved pet care: The ability to address pet health concerns quickly and get follow-up care enables faster diagnosis and treatment for the best possible outcomes.
Cost savings: VetHelpline® helps pet parents determine whether issues require urgent vet visits or can be addressed with at-home care, which can result in significant cost savings.
Informed decision making: Guidance from VetHelpline® vets empowers you to make well-informed choices about your pet’s health and get the right care at the right time.
With so many benefits for your pet’s wellbeing, it’s easy to see why unlimited access to VetHelpline® is an extremely valuable perk of Nationwide pet insurance. Getting timely veterinary advice whenever you need it can vastly improve outcomes for your furry family members. Don’t wait until regular business hours to get answers to your pet health questions—let the experienced VetHelpline® team provide real-time support 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions About VetHelpline®
Many pet owners have questions about what VetHelpline® offers and how it works. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:
What types of pets can use VetHelpline®?
VetHelpline® provides support for both cats and dogs. If you have exotic pets like birds, rabbits, reptiles, etc. discuss your Nationwide policy coverage.
Is there a charge to use VetHelpline®?
There is no extra fee to access unlimited VetHelpline® consultations as a Nationwide pet insurance member. It’s included with your policy.
What info do I need for my consultation?
Have details like your pet’s age, medical history, current symptoms, medications, vaccine records, and your Nationwide policy number ready to share with the VetHelpline® vet.
Can I request a specific vet?
VetHelpline® connects you with the next available licensed veterinary professional. You likely won’t speak with the same one for each consultation.
How quickly can I talk to a vet?
Wait times vary, but you’re often connected within minutes. The app shows estimated wait times so you know what to expect.
Can VetHelpline® prescribe medication?
No, vets cannot prescribe drugs via telehealth. But they can recommend over-the-counter or prescription meds to discuss with your family vet.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to VetHelpline® whenever you have a question about your pet’s health or need guidance on what to do next. The veterinary experts are there for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Access On-Demand Veterinary Support with Ease Using VetHelpline®
As a Nationwide pet insurance member, take advantage of your included access to 24/7 veterinary consultations through VetHelpline®. With unlimited, real-time support at your fingertips, you can get professional advice about your pet’s health whenever an issue pops up for added convenience and peace of mind. Don’t wait to get the veterinary guidance you need—let VetHelpline® help provide timely information so you can take action and give your pet the best care possible.
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