The best virtual veterinary services for your pets

After testing a wide variety of toothbrushes, toothpastes, and dental chews, we've compiled a guide to the best dental care products for dogs. Fortunately, taking care of your dog's teeth is easy if you have the right products.

There are many flea control and protection products that are specifically designed to protect your dog against these pests. We've done the research to bring you our top picks for the best flea treatments for dogs that do not require a prescription.

Dewormers for dogs come in several forms including tablets, granules, powders, and liquids, so talk to your veterinarian about the option that is best for your dog. Once you know what kind of dewormer you need, take a look at our top picks for the best non-prescription dewormer for dogs.

Dog shampoos are formulated to be gentle on your dog's sensitive skin, and they are generally free from harsh chemicals and fragrances. There is an array of options out there, but some dog shampoos are simply better than others.

here are countless over-the-counter (OTC) medicated dog shampoos on the market, but we've done the research to determine the best nonprescription medicated shampoos for dogs.

The best dewormer for your cat will be determined by the type of intestinal parasite your cat has. Once your veterinarian has determined what kind of worms your cat has, there are the best dewormers you can buy.

Hairballs are inevitable for cats, and if your feline is extra fluffy, it may be a chronic problem. Luckily, there are plenty of great hairball remedies, medicines, and prevention tools out there.

With the right flea treatment for cats, you can keep your cat or kitten safe from fleas. Effective over-the-counter flea control products are available in the form of topical preventives, collars, shampoos, sprays, and oral options.

WhiskerDocs connects pet owners to veterinary telehealth specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After registering, you can speak with a US-licensed veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician via phone, live chat, or email in less than 30 seconds. WhiskerDocs veterinarians can answer pet health questions and offer guidance and advice, but cannot diagnose, treat, or prescribe medications.

WhiskerDocs offers both subscriptions and single appointments. Fees for single appointments vary depending on the type of communication. Phone calls or live chats are $39.99, and email is $4.99 (usually answered within four hours). Subscribers get unlimited calls, live chats, and emails for $16.99 per month or $129.99 per year. Yearly subscribers can add additional pets for 75% off.

Some companies offer WhiskerDocs services as a benefit to their employees, and several pet insurance providers include WhiskerDocs services for policyholders. Inquire with your provider.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, WhiskerDocs and Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group have partnered to offer pet owners in New York free access to their chat service. Between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, residents can chat with a veterinarian or technician at HelpNYPets.com.

PetCoach by Petco allows you to virtually ask questions about your pet's health, nutrition, or behavior, and quickly receive answers from verified licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians, trainers, nutritionists, and behavior specialists. Veterinarians can provide guidance and advice, but cannot diagnose your pet or prescribe medications.

PetCoach offers two service options, both available via its website or through its smartphone app (iOS/Android). You can ask a single question and get a single answer from a veterinarian or veterinary technician in the online forum for a $5 fee. This feature allows you to include up to three photos, and your question and answer will be visible to other users. The average response time for a question is about two hours, although this may vary.

For $20, you can opt for a private, in-depth consultation with a veterinarian, which includes private unlimited text messaging with unlimited photos for as long as you need to get your question answered. The average response time for in-depth consultations varies, but you may select an "expiration time" for your request. If you do not receive a response by this time, you will not be charged.

The PetCoach website also offers a searchable database of previously answered questions about dogs, cats, small animals, birds, fish, reptiles, and farm animals and an Educational Center that includes veterinarian-authored articles and resources.

Ask.Vet connects you with licensed veterinarians to live chat on your mobile device or computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ask.Vet is the company behind Banfield Pet Hospital's Vet Chat app, which is included as a benefit to their Optimum Wellness Plan members.

All of Ask.Vet's experts are US-licensed veterinarians with an average practice experience of 12 years, according to the company. They can provide guidance, advice, and education about pet health, but they cannot diagnose or treat your pet or prescribe medications.

If the veterinarian believes your pet should be seen urgently, Ask.Vet will provide you with the three closest emergency animal hospitals to your location. The service also offers referrals to local general practice veterinarians.

Fees are charged per session ($19.95), and sessions are typically 15 to 20 minutes long. During the COVID-19 outbreak, Royal Canin and Ask.Vet have partnered to offer pet owners free chats with veterinarians via the Royal Canin website or by texting "chatnow" to 67076.