FirstVet, the startup which provides pet owners with on-demand video consultations with local, qualified veterinarians, announced its partnership with Itch, the UK’s leading pet health and well-being subscription service that delivers tailored well-being products to pet owners.
From 8 June, as a benefit of being an Itch customer, pet owners will be able to book free video vet appointments via their smartphones and web browser, allowing them to receive expert advice from the comfort of their own home. Launched as Itch Video Vet, all visitors to the Itch website will be able to see the FirstVet offering and sign-up to a hassle-free monthly parasite protection pack to get access to the service.
Using the FirstVet app, Itch customers can speak to a vet and have their pets examined remotely, helping to avoid unnecessary vet visits and stress for pet parents and their animals. Plus, given the restrictions and challenges still presented by COVID-19, there is a growing expectation to receive on-demand video vet appointments, as many pet owners may not be able to, or indeed feel comfortable with, visiting their local veterinary clinic in-person.
A FirstVet account can be set up easily on the FirstVet app, available for free on iOS and Android, enabling users to access the video appointment service as often as is required without incurring FirstVet’s standard consultation costs.
“We are delighted to be able to offer our remote care services to the growing community of Itch subscribers” comments David Prien, FirstVet CEO and co-founder. “We are committed to helping owners keep their pets fit and healthy, so this partnership with Itch is a natural and proactive step towards ensuring that each and every one of their members has access to reliable and remote professional pet care, free of charge, whenever they need.”
Andrew Pinnington, CEO at Itch added, “We are thrilled to be expanding our range of pet care services to include free video vet appointments for pet owners subscribed to Itch’s parasite protection and pet well-being products. We know that being a pet owner isn’t always easy, so having access to fast, reliable, and round-the-clock care for pet owners is something we are extremely proud to be able to provide to our customers.”
About Itch
Itch is a winning combination of pet health and well-being products and services, including highly effective parasite treatments, pet therapeutics, and no-nonsense pet insurance. With products automatically delivered to your front door, exactly when you need them, Itch makes keeping your pet healthy both easier and smarter. Plus all Itch members get free, 24/7 access to expert vet advice with Itch Video Vet.
Co-founded in July 2019 by experienced pet supply retailers Jonny and Adam Gould (co-founders of Monster Pet Supplies), direct-to-consumer entrepreneur James Cox (co-founder of Simba), and expert marketer Charlotte Harper (ex-CMO at Zoopla), Itch has quickly grown to become a notable name in the pet health and wellbeing world.
At launch, Itch raised £5 million in seed funding from Seedcamp and YYX Capital, with further investment planned to support the development of innovative health and well-being solutions to every day pet owner concerns. Last year the business appointed Andrew Pinnington (ex-CEO Hailo/myTaxi) as CEO to lead the growing team as it expands its customer base and product offering globally.
With research by Mintel showing that the UK pet care market is set to reach £2.1 billion by 2023, Itch is in the purr-fect position to take a sizable bite out of the market.
About FirstVet
FirstVet is a mobile app service that offers video call veterinary consultations for pet owners to provide instant peace of mind about the health of their pets. FirstVet was founded in Stockholm in 2016 and has since expanded to the Nordics, the United Kingdom, United States and Germany, employing a team of 75 staff and 300 veterinarians. Matching the growth in, and acceptance of, video consultation for human health issues, FirstVet is a trailblazer in bringing the benefits of digital platforms to the veterinary sector. Available on iOS and Android, FirstVet allows pet-owners to arrange video calls with registered vets who, in addition to offering advice on treatments and symptoms, can also refer them to a local vet. Video appointments can be booked in as often as necessary, with users often being able to meet with vets within 30 minutes. Each month, the FirstVet consultants improve the lives of thousands of animals from cats, dogs, rabbits, reptiles, to birds, hamsters, and horses.
FirstVet has to-date raised €53 million, after recently closing a €29.5 million Series C round in November 2020 which was led by Mubadala Capital. One year prior, the company raised €18.5 million Series B round, led by London-headquartered OMERS Ventures, and with participation from Stockholm-based Creandum, an early investor in Spotify. For more information visit the website.
