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Being a pet owner is never simple, and most individuals, like Athena Lee, frequently misjudge the amount of responsibility involved.
When Athena first acquired a pet, she discovered that taking care of one was far more difficult and complicated than she had anticipated.
She has had pets for almost four years, yet she still notices new behavioural anomalies and is frequently unclear of whether they warrant worry.
One such case was when Siam, her cat, went over a year without having a urinary tract infection identified because she was not aware of the behavioural symptoms to watch for.
Grace Su, a veterinarian and fellow pet lover, came to the same realisation as she did. Together with Athena, they founded the Singapore-based pet telehealth platform ZumVet, which enables pet owners to receive convenient and accessible medical advice for their animals.
a veterinary internet clinic
Athena is originally from Hong Kong and has travelled all across the United States before opting to reside in Singapore in 2017. That same year, she became the CEO of a local telehealth firm called Doctor Anywhere.
Athena first met Grace at this startup, where she had worked as a locum doctor since 2018.
In 2019, Athena and Grace built ZumVet from the ground up using their knowledge of telehealth services and the lessons they learned there.
video consultation with ZumVet
Services for video consultation provided by ZumVet
Pet owners in Singapore can obtain a wide variety of economical veterinary treatments through ZumVet's platform via desktop computers and its mobile application.
The veterinary platform enables pet owners to schedule a consultation with a veterinarian from the convenience of their home for a price starting at S$35.
Owners can easily communicate their issues over a video conversation and, if necessary, display bodily symptoms through the screen.
- Athena Lee, a ZumVet co-founder
Owners can save on transportation expenses in this method, and animals won't have to worry about visiting a physical vet.
The veterinarians in ZumVet's network will provide prescription recommendations after each diagnosis, and the drugs will be delivered right to the owner's door. Owners can also ask for prescription refills if necessary.
Shop Zumvet
Products from ZumShop. Photo credit: Zumvet
ZumVet recently expanded its medical services in addition to its video consulting services with the opening of an online pet health and wellness store, ZumShop, barely two months ago.
Pet supplies and medication are among the products from ZumShop that have been approved by veterinarians and can "improve the experience of pet ownership not only in terms of health but also lifestyle." Its product list also features difficult-to-find items that are only offered in home marketplaces abroad.
The COVID-19 lockdowns were the catalyst for ZumVet's success. Photo by Athena Lee via LinkedIn
The first six months of launching ZumVet were, according to Athena, the most difficult for the team because they had to create the platform remotely because to COVID-19 limitations.
Athena said, "We learnt how to create trust during this period. The anxiety was great and communication was challenging.
The lockdown restrictions and the fact that Singapore's veterinary telemedicine industry was still in its infancy at the time of their launch added to the difficulties they faced in establishing a foothold in the market.
Athena said, "We have to educate vets on how our platform can help make healthcare for dogs more accessible, as well as our clients on the benefits of using our platform as opposed to physically going to a vet."
Despite these difficulties, the limitations that initially served as a barrier to the firm were what ultimately helped the business succeed.
During the epidemic, there was an urgent demand for digitalization and remote services as more businesses closed their physical doors. Due to ZumVet's accessibility, pet owners who were unable to visit a veterinarian at the height of COVID turned to the company in substantial numbers.
We were really fortunate that the pandemic at the time of our debut necessitated the urgent need for digitization and remote services, making people more receptive to testing new approaches to obtaining the healthcare they required.
- Athena Lee, a ZumVet co-founder
As Singapore recovers from the pandemic, pet owners continue to frequent the establishment in large numbers, particularly those who lack access to cars or reside in locations without close veterinary clinics.
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Telehealth and conventional veterinary care must coexist.
launch of zumvet athena lee grace su
Grace Su and Athena Lee at the launch of ZumShop. Photo credit: Athena Lee through LinkedIn.
Athena understands that despite the benefits and convenience provided by telehealth providers, online consultations have their own drawbacks, such as technological obstacles.
There will always be situations in which it is necessary to take a pet to a physical veterinarian who is outfitted with the necessary equipment to handle serious problems or chronic diseases. In reality, additional testing was necessary in around 50% of the instances detected by ZumVet.
ZumVet has partnerships with conventional veterinarians as a result of this. ZumVet refers pet owners to these partner clinics if their animals have significant problems or require urgent care.
Athena believes that by enhancing conventional veterinarian care, Singapore's telehealth industry will enable pet owners to gain more extensive advantages.
In recent years, she continued, pet ownership has grown more quickly in Singapore than the veterinary industry, which is a major source of worry for those involved in this industry.
Additionally, she points out that the industry has seen a rise in demand for connectivity, services, mobility, comfort, and technology, which has put additional burden on veterinary businesses islandwide.
Despite the fact that the pandemic has significantly increased the acceptance of vet telemedicine, there is still much room for improvement in the industry. According to Athena, the growth of online platforms like ZumVet will meet the rising demand for veterinary treatment.
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