Online Pain Consultations
Specialist-Led Online Vet Consultations, Across the UK
Wherever you are in the UK, your dog or cat’s pain can be assessed by an RCVS Specialist Vet, without a long or stressful journey.
Consultations are led by Dr James Hunt, an RCVS and EBVS Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, a field grounded in the recognition and assessment of pain, and an ACVAA Founding Fellow in Pain Management. He holds an MSc and a PhD in pain and has dedicated his career to understanding and relieving pain in animals.
An online vet consultation gives you the same careful, unhurried specialist assessment as an in-person appointment, in the cases where a hands-on examination isn’t essential or possible. You and your own vet receive a clear written plan afterwards, so everyone stays involved in your pet’s care.
When an online consultation is a good fit
Every animal is different, but an online consultation is often the right next step when:
- your pet has a diagnosis but isn’t responding to treatment as well as you had hoped
- you would like a specialist second opinion on a pain or arthritis problem
- a medication hasn’t suited your pet, or has caused a reaction
- your dog or cat has arthritis that is not well controlled on their current treatment
- the cause of your pet’s discomfort hasn’t been clear
- travelling to a clinic is difficult, or a physical examination isn’t essential
If any of these sound familiar, a specialist review may open up options that haven’t yet been tried.
What to expect
Before your appointment, you complete a short structured questionnaire and share videos and photos of your pet. We also review your pet’s full clinical history and any previous test results from your own vet. The videos matter a great deal, because how your pet moves and settles at home often tells us more than a few minutes in a clinic can.
Your consultation takes place by video and usually lasts an hour. It is dedicated to understanding your concerns, reviewing the whole picture in detail, and working through the options with you clearly and honestly.
Afterwards, you receive a detailed written report summarising what we discussed and what we recommend. With your agreement, a copy goes to your own vet, so they can carry the plan forward.
Working alongside your own vet
An online consultation supports your regular vet rather than replacing them. Online consultations do not involve prescribing. Clinical responsibility for your pet stays with your own practice, and your vet issues any new medication or dose changes once they have reviewed the recommendations. Most vets are glad of a specialist’s detailed input on a complex pain problem, because chronic pain is difficult to work through in a standard appointment.
What can, and can’t, be assessed online
A great deal can be reviewed remotely: medication and how well it is working, the likely sources of pain, gait and mobility from video, the home environment, and the overall management plan. Some things still need hands-on assessment or imaging, and where that is the case we will say so plainly and help you work out the right next step, whether that is an in-person appointment or a referral elsewhere.
PRICING
Initial consultation: £225
BOOKING
To book an online vet consultation with Dr James Hunt visit our booking tool or get in touch with us
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I get a specialist second opinion on my dog’s pain or arthritis online? Yes. A second opinion from a specialist is one of the most common reasons owners book an online consultation, particularly when a diagnosis is in place but the pain isn’t well controlled. You receive an independent review from an RCVS Specialist and a written plan to share with your own vet.
Are online pain consultations available anywhere in the UK? Yes. Online consultations are available to owners across the UK. Wherever you are, you can have your pet assessed by a specialist by video, working alongside your local vet.
What can you assess in an online consultation? We review your pet’s full clinical history and test results, assess videos of how they move and settle at home, and go through their medication and daily management in detail. From this we build a clear picture of the likely sources of pain and the options for improving comfort.
Can I get an online consultation for my dog’s or cat’s arthritis? Yes. Arthritis and osteoarthritis are among the most common reasons owners book an online consultation, particularly when a diagnosis is in place but comfort is not where you would like it. We review the history, videos and current medication, and provide a written plan for your own vet to carry forward.
Will you work with my own vet? Yes. An online consultation works alongside your regular practice, not instead of it. With your permission, your vet receives a detailed written report so they can continue to oversee your pet’s care.
Can you prescribe medication during an online consultation? No. Online consultations do not involve prescribing, and clinical responsibility stays with your own vet. We provide detailed recommendations, and your vet issues any new medication or dose changes once they have reviewed them.
My dog had a reaction to a pain medication, or it isn’t working well. Can an online consultation help? Yes. Cases where a medication hasn’t suited a pet, has caused a reaction, or simply isn’t controlling the pain are exactly what these consultations are for. We review what has and hasn’t helped and set out safer or more effective options to discuss with your vet.
How long does it take, and what happens afterwards? The consultation lasts about an hour by video. Afterwards you receive a detailed written report of the discussion and recommendations, and, with your agreement, a copy is sent to your own vet.
Do you see cats as well as dogs? Yes. We assess and help manage chronic pain in both dogs and cats.