Teletriage Informed Consent

Last updated: March 2026

About This Consent. This Informed Consent form explains the nature, benefits, risks, and limitations of veterinary teletriage services provided through Sidekick Vet. By proceeding with your consultation, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms described here. All consent items below are pre-selected — if you do not agree with any item, please do not proceed.

1. What Is Veterinary Teletriage?

Sidekick Vet, operated by PupPilot Corp, connects you with licensed veterinary professionals through a virtual platform. Veterinary services are delivered by Pet Vet Connection, LLC ("PVC"), an independent veterinary teletriage provider. Sidekick Vet is a technology platform — we do not practice veterinary medicine.

Our service is veterinary teletriage, available in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia:

Teletriage (Available Nationwide) A licensed veterinary professional will assess your pet's symptoms and help you determine the urgency of the situation — whether your pet needs emergency care, a scheduled vet visit, or can be monitored at home. Teletriage provides general guidance and wellness advice. It does not include veterinary diagnosis, specific treatment plans, or prescriptions. Teletriage does not require an existing Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR).
What you should expect: Every consultation through Sidekick Vet is a teletriage session. The veterinary professional will help you understand the urgency of your pet's situation and recommend next steps, which may include visiting a local veterinarian or emergency clinic. Your local vet is your pet's best friend — we help you know when and how quickly to see them.

2. No VCPR Required

Teletriage does not require a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR). Our teletriage service — symptom assessment, urgency guidance, and general wellness advice — is available to all users regardless of VCPR status. Because we do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe, the VCPR requirements that apply to veterinary telemedicine do not apply to our service.

3. Potential Benefits

  • Convenient access to veterinary guidance without leaving home
  • Faster assessment of whether your pet needs urgent or emergency care
  • Reduced stress for pets who experience anxiety during clinic visits
  • Access to veterinary professionals during evenings and weekends when your regular vet may be unavailable
  • Written consultation summaries and follow-up care instructions

4. Risks and Limitations

You understand and acknowledge that veterinary teletriage has inherent limitations:

  • No physical examination. The veterinary professional cannot physically examine, palpate, listen to, or directly observe your pet. Teletriage is limited to assessing symptoms and urgency based on the information you provide.
  • Reliance on your description. The veterinary professional must rely on the information, photos, and videos you provide. Incomplete or inaccurate information may affect the guidance you receive.
  • Technology limitations. Video and audio quality, internet connectivity, and device capabilities may affect the quality of the consultation. Technical failures may interrupt or prevent a consultation.
  • Not a substitute for in-person care. Teletriage cannot replace a full in-person veterinary examination. The veterinary professional will often recommend an in-person visit to your local veterinarian — this is a core feature of our service, not a limitation.
  • No guaranteed outcomes. As with any veterinary consultation, outcomes cannot be guaranteed. The guidance provided is based on the information available at the time of the consultation.
  • No diagnoses, prescriptions, or treatment plans. Sidekick Vet provides teletriage only. We do not diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, or create treatment plans. You must visit your local veterinarian for these services.

5. Emergency Care

Sidekick Vet is NOT an emergency veterinary service.

If your pet is experiencing a life-threatening emergency — including but not limited to difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, seizures, collapse, poisoning, or severe trauma — do not use this service. Contact your nearest veterinary emergency clinic or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

If during your consultation the veterinarian determines your pet requires emergency care, they will advise you to seek immediate in-person treatment and end the virtual consultation.

6. Consultation Recording & Privacy

All consultations are recorded. Audio and/or video recording of your consultation is mandatory and cannot be opted out of. Recordings are used for quality assurance, training, regulatory compliance, and medical record-keeping purposes. Recordings are stored securely and treated as part of your consultation record. By proceeding with your consultation, you consent to this recording.

Pet Vet Connection, LLC is the primary custodian of consultation records. Sidekick Vet receives and retains a copy of all consultation records indefinitely. Your personal information and pet health data are handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Key points:

  • Your data is shared with PVC solely to deliver the veterinary teletriage services you requested
  • Consultation records are stored securely using encryption in transit and at rest
  • Sidekick Vet retains copies of all consultation records indefinitely
  • We do not sell your personal information or pet health data

7. No Prescriptions or Medications

Sidekick Vet does not prescribe medications, and no medications will be prescribed or recommended through our platform. Our service is limited to teletriage — assessing your pet's symptoms, evaluating urgency, and recommending next steps. If the consulting veterinary professional determines that your pet may need medication, they will recommend that you visit your local veterinarian.

You should inform the consulting veterinary professional of all medications your pet is currently taking so that they can provide the most appropriate urgency assessment and referral guidance.

8. Your Responsibilities

To receive the best possible guidance, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information about your pet's health, symptoms, and medical history
  • Ensure you are in a suitable environment for the consultation (adequate lighting, stable internet connection, ability to show your pet on camera if requested)
  • Follow up with an in-person veterinarian when recommended
  • Seek emergency care immediately if your pet's condition worsens
  • Follow through on recommended next steps, including visiting your local veterinarian when advised

9. Your Right to Withdraw Consent

You may withdraw this consent and end your consultation at any time by closing the consultation window or notifying the veterinarian. Withdrawing consent will not affect any services already provided during the consultation.

Your Consent

By proceeding with a consultation, you agree to all of the following:

Consent Acknowledgments

By proceeding with your consultation, you confirm the following:

  • ✓ I understand that Sidekick Vet is a technology platform and that veterinary teletriage services are provided by Pet Vet Connection, LLC through licensed veterinary professionals.
  • ✓ I understand that Sidekick Vet provides teletriage only — not telemedicine, diagnoses, prescriptions, or treatment plans — and that the veterinary professional will often recommend that I visit my local veterinarian.
  • ✓ I understand the risks and limitations of veterinary teletriage, including that the veterinary professional cannot physically examine my pet and must rely on the information I provide.
  • ✓ I understand that this service is not for veterinary emergencies and that I should seek immediate in-person care if my pet is experiencing a life-threatening condition.
  • ✓ I consent to the mandatory recording of my consultation (audio and/or video) for quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and record-keeping purposes. I understand that recording cannot be opted out of and that records are retained indefinitely.
  • ✓ I confirm that the information I provide about my pet is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
  • ✓ I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and I understand that all sales are final once a consultation begins.