In a rural hamlet north of Toronto, surrounded by equestrian farms, Brody Slacer spends his days thinking about pets he’ll never meet.
Slacer works for Vetster, a digital veterinary marketplace that pairs pet owners with licensed veterinary professionals around the clock. The platform lets people browse vet profiles, read reviews and book virtual appointments.
Vetster is especially important in states like Arizona where SB1286 2026 reframes how veterinarians can use technology to treat animals, carving out a clearer legal lane for electronic veterinary visits and remote prescribing.
The bill recognizes that many routine interactions — follow‑ups, behavioral check‑ins, medication adjustments — don’t always require an in‑person exam. This gives veterinarians explicit authority to conduct certain visits through digital platforms.
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SB1286 also sets guardrails: electronic care must still meet professional standards, and prescriptions issued remotely must follow the same safety and documentation requirements as traditional visits.
The bill allows veterinarians to prescribe longer durations of medications — antimicrobial, non‑antimicrobial, and preventatives like flea and tick treatments — without requiring an immediate in‑person visit. (Veterinarians AZ Big Media reached out to are not offering telemedicine.)
“Arizona has a lot of ‘veterinary deserts,’ a lot of really hard places to access care,” said Slacer, Vetster’s vice president of business operations.
“Also, as a pet owner, sometimes you’re almost embarrassed by your questions. You’re not sure whether it really needs a veterinarian in person. You don’t want to take up the clinic’s time or your own time to go there. That’s what makes Vetster special.”
In addition to virtual appointments, Vetster offers live chat support from veterinary technicians. The company doesn’t operate brick‑and‑mortar clinics; instead, its veterinarians triage each case and refer clients to in‑person care as needed.
“Our veterinarians will always assess triage — whether they can diagnose virtually, or whether it needs to go in person,” Slacer said.
“That’s something that’s really beneficial to have at home and with your pet in its own environment before you decide to make the journey.”
That guidance, he noted, can prevent unnecessary emergency visits and dangerous delays.
“You can talk to a veterinarian almost instantaneously,” he said. “They may say, ‘We can treat this virtually,’ or ‘You really do need to go in person, but it’s a non‑emergent situation.’ Or they can guide you: ‘This is a situation where I do really recommend that you go to that emergency veterinarian.’”
Slacer calls it the “analysis paralysis” problem, the hesitation that leads some pet parents to wait too long because they’re unsure what level of care is appropriate.
Arizona’s new veterinary telemedicine bill, which expands prescribing authority for virtual veterinarians, aligns closely with Vetster’s mission.
A model designed to supplement — not replace — traditional care
Vetster’s veterinarians work as independent contractors on the company’s marketplace, and Slacer oversees the operations that support them, including pharmacy partnerships and the internal team of veterinary technicians.
“Vet techs know so much,” he said. “They can help you with all kinds of different questions and problems that you’re having with your pets.”
Vetster users still maintain relationships with their brick‑and‑mortar veterinarians. Telemedicine simply fills the gaps — the late‑night symptoms, the second opinions, the 20‑minute conversations that aren’t always possible in a traditional clinic.
“When you have a 20‑minute consult, that’s 20 minutes of time with a veterinarian,” Slacer said. “That’s not typically the amount of time you get in brick and mortar with the actual DVM.”
Vetster offers two pricing options: a $144 annual membership that includes four visits and year-round chat access; and a $103 one-time visit for nonmembers. Members who exceed their four visits can purchase additional appointments at a reduced rate.
“We’re not trying to be a cheaper alternative for care by any means,” Slacer said. “We want to make sure veterinarians have a good earning and a good living on Vetster. We pay our veterinarians as well as we can, above industry standard for telehealth as well. But we want to make sure that it’s accessible for pet parents.”
For Slacer, the goal is simple: give pet owners confidence and clarity.
“We’re all really passionate about access to care and allowing pet parents to feel empowered about their pet’s health journey,” he said. “We want pet parents to know what their pet needs when their pet needs it.”
