Chewy launches telehealth service

Chewy is launching a new telehealth service that allows pet owners to connect with veterinarians for consultations and to get referrals to local vets or emergency clinics.

The veterinarians on the platform, called “Connect With a Vet,” are not diagnosing medical conditions, providing treatment or prescribing medications, the pet product e-commerce company said.

The service was initially launched in Florida and Massachusetts in May, and the company has expanded it to more than 35 states with plans of offering it nationwide. It’s currently available exclusively and free of charge to customers who are subscribed to the Chewy’s Autoship program, which is responsible for nearly 70% of its net sales.

Chewy said it has partnered on the service with vets affected by the pandemic or who are seeking scheduling flexibility.

“We have focused our efforts into developing an easy-to-use and convenient teletriage product that we anticipate will have a positive impact given the current environment, and also extend beyond that,” said Sumit Singh, Chewy’s CEO.

“Visiting a local vet continues to be a challenge for many pet parents during this time,” Singh added. “So, we thought, why not come up with a solution that can help both communities, our customers and veterinarians, in this time of greatest need.”

This announcement came shortly after it was reported that Chewy and PetSmart were parting ways in a nearly $6 billion recapitalization of PetSmart. However, PetSmart’s debt sale was put on hold after the company had difficulty stoking investor interest. The brick-and-mortar retailer acquired the e-commerce company in 2017.