It all started with Boop, a gawky cat at an animal shelter. Tan Kabra - a 21-year-old Babson student who’s an entrepreneur thrice over - and his girlfriend came across little Boop and couldn’t help but take her. However, the two busy bodies soon found out that taking care of a fur child can be time-consuming and expensive. And that’s when Kabra came up with his third company concept that's about to sweep pet news: VetX.“The interest that veterinarians and clinics have already showed us is a huge boost in confidence."[/pullquote]
VetX, an app that will link paranoid animal parents with a network of veterinary experts, is launching Oct. 28 on the Apple Store and Google Play will be soon to follow. Basically, it’s meant to give pet owners more information about what could be ailing their animals, as well as advice about general pet care.
Kabra conceived of the idea after a couple of pricey false veterinarian alarms with Boop.
He laid the scene of one such incident, explaining that, “Our cat had just been spayed, and they kept telling us, ‘Make sure she doesn’t open the incision by licking it.’ And you know cats, they’re always licking themselves. So at one point, we were very anxious looking at her, wondering ‘Is that open? Or is it closed? What should we do?’”
“We tried to take her to a clinic, but it was closed at that hour, so we had to take her to an animal hospital,” Kabra continued. "It took 90 seconds and about $250 for the vet to tell us she was fine.’”
After that expensive visit that was ultimately unnecessary, Kabra knew there had to be a way for pet-owners to screen when they should bring their animals to the vet versus when it’s not that serious. Some people resort to Google to find some diagnosis answers - much like they do for their own afflictions - but it takes time to peruse articles filled with less than accurate information.
An easier (less expensive way)
VetX presents the perfect balance of being cautious about your pet’s wellbeing, but without having to overreact. When you notice something’s off about your animal, you just log into the app, select the consultation function and send a message containing a description of what’s going on - in addition to photos or videos - that will be sent to a network of veterinarians. Whichever expert is available first will review what you provided and ask for additional information they may need. The vet will then send you a detailed description of what could be happening and what you should do next - whether it be simply monitoring your pet’s condition or bringing your animal into a clinic.
The app’s services are available at any time of the day or night, which is ideal when people are wondering if a vet visit can wait until the morning. The fees associated with these screenings range, but you could be looking at a bill as low as $20. That beats the $250+ you could be paying for an unneeded clinic stop. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that VetX isn’t a substitute for medical attention. The information through the app is more educational, giving you a better idea of what may be going on with your furry friends.
Also, if you have less pressing questions on which you’d like to get a professional’s feedback, you can use VetX to do just that. The same network of veterinarians can touch upon any curiosities you may have - like what you should be feeding your dog, or how to address your cat’s behavioral issues.
Vets already giving the thumbs up
VetX, based out of WeWork South Station in Boston, is already planning its next steps for features. After the app launches at the end of the month, the team is going to be working on developing a function that lets you book an appointment with a local veterinarian if any follow-up actions are required after a virtual consultation.
It’s thinking of features like that - which supports the veterinarian business rather than deter it - that has earned VetX a warm welcome within the vet community. Up until this point, a share of other tech companies have tried to worm their way into this field, but they've been stonewalled by clinics and hospitals because they've been trying to cut out medical professionals from the process altogether.
Instead, VetX strives to become additional layer of help in the medical care process for pets.
“The interest that veterinarians and clinics have already showed us is a huge boost in confidence," Kabra said. "They’ve turned down similar offers from other places, so I know we’re doing something right."
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