There is a shortage of veterinarians in California, but there may be a solution through remote veterinary care offered by Dutch.com, according to the company's April 4 blog post.

The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) discussed the shortage with the San Francisco Examiner in April 2024. "Since the pandemic, we've experienced a veterinary shortage which has taken a lot of the progress that we made over decades backward. So right now shelters are in a bit of a crisis and pet owners are also in a bit of a crisis," said Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, CEO of the San Francisco SPCA.

Remote veterinary care through providers like Dutch.com offers several benefits such as convenience, improved access to care, and more efficient diagnosis, consultation, and treatment, according to Dutch.com's April 2024 blog post. Veterinary telemedicine allows pet owners to consult professionals and specialists who are not in their regions. This can save an average of 50 minutes of drive time and reduce waiting times at vet offices.

Dutch is described as the leading online veterinary pet telehealth service created with board-certified veterinary specialists. The company uses a science-backed approach to provide pets relief for their everyday physical and behavioral health issues. Dutch connects pet owners with licensed veterinarians via video chat and messaging to help them get care for their dogs or cats quickly without the stress or expense of an in-person vet visit. Prescription medication (in applicable states only) and over-the-counter treatments are then delivered directly to customers' doors. Dutch clarifies that it is not a veterinary practice or pharmacy but facilitates these services to make veterinary care more accessible.