What is a vet hotline?

An emergency veterinarian hotline is a phone number staffed 24 hours a day by a licensed veterinarian. The intent of the hotline is to provide advice and assistance to pet owners who find themselves in an emergency situation involving a pet.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers an animal poisoning hotline to provide advice for situations involving a possible poisoning of a dog or cat. Some online hotline services allow pet owners to ask non-emergency health-related questions by email or phone. Veterinarian hotlines sometimes charge a fee for each call. Some hotlines are available as a subscription service with a yearly fee.