Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM • Chief Executive Officer, RexVet • 2026-07-12 • 8 min read
Emergency Online Vet Consultation — Florida, New York, Virginia | When Telehealth Works & When It Doesn't
Emergency online vet consultation in Florida, New York, and Virginia — $64.99 flat with a licensed DVM. Clear guidance on which emergencies need a physical ER right now vs which can be triaged by video.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM
If you think it's an emergency — go to a physical ER now
Please do not delay real emergency care to book a telehealth visit. A video call cannot replace hands-on assessment, IV fluids, oxygen, X-rays, ultrasound, or surgery. If your pet has any of the following signs, drive to your nearest veterinary ER immediately or call ahead so they're ready when you arrive.
TRUE emergencies — physical ER, not telehealth
- **Bloat / GDV** — Distended abdomen, retching without producing anything, restlessness, drooling. Large deep-chested dogs (Great Danes, Standard Poodles, German Shepherds, Boxers, Weimaraners) especially. Deadly within hours.
- **Hit-by-car or major trauma** — Even if your pet seems okay, internal bleeding is possible
- **Respiratory distress** — Blue/pale gums, labored breathing, extreme panting that won't stop, open-mouth breathing in a cat
- **Seizure lasting more than 2-3 minutes** — Or multiple seizures in a row (cluster seizures)
- **Unconsciousness, collapse, unresponsive to touch or voice**
- **Suspected poisoning** — Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 FIRST (they will guide you to home care or the nearest ER)
- **Active bleeding you cannot stop** — After 5 min of firm pressure
- **Male cat straining to urinate or not producing urine** — Urinary blockage kills within 24-48 hours
- **Heat stroke** — Body temp over 104°F, extreme panting, red gums, disorientation (especially July-Sept)
- **Deep or penetrating wound** — Especially chest or abdomen; requires imaging
- **Snake bite, especially in a small pet** — Depending on species, antivenom needed
- **Choking on an object**
- **Puppy or kitten under 6 months with vomiting or diarrhea > 12 hours** — Fluid loss is dangerous fast at their size
Local FL/NY/VA emergency vet hospitals — save these to your phone now
- **South Florida** — Coral Springs Animal Hospital, Miami Vets, BluePearl (multiple locations), Animal Emergency + Referral Center (Fort Lauderdale)
- **Tampa/Orlando** — BluePearl Tampa/Sarasota/Orlando, Blue Chip Animal Emergency (Orlando)
- **NYC + boroughs** — BluePearl Midtown, Animal Medical Center (Upper East Side), VERG Brooklyn, Katonah Bedford Vet Center (Westchester)
- **Long Island** — Long Island Veterinary Specialists (Plainview), Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island
- **Northern Virginia + DC** — SouthPaws (Fairfax), The LifeCentre (Leesburg), Veterinary Referral Center of Northern Virginia (Manassas), Regional Veterinary Emergency Referral Service (Springfield)
- **Richmond/Norfolk** — VRC Richmond, BluePearl Richmond, Veterinary Emergency Center (Norfolk/Virginia Beach)
When telehealth CAN help urgently
- **"Is this an emergency?" triage** — You're not sure whether to drive. A $64.99 video visit can help you decide.
- **Urgent-but-not-emergency issues** — Vomiting once, diarrhea starting, ear infection flare, allergy hot spot, mild anxiety after a stressor
- **Follow-up questions after an ER visit** — Discharged from ER 2 days ago and pet isn't improving as expected — video visit to review the plan
- **Refill of a critical Rx** — You're out of anti-seizure meds, insulin, or another chronic-condition Rx and can't get to your regular vet before the weekend
- **Wound assessment** — Cut you can show on camera; DVM can advise if urgent care needed or if at-home care is fine
- **Post-op check-in** — Sutures look swollen, is this normal?
How urgent triage works via video
- 1. Book at rexvet.org — $64.99 for same-day slot
- 2. Fill out 5-question health history (2-3 min)
- 3. Video visit with licensed FL/NY/VA DVM (10-20 min)
- 4. DVM examines what they can see — gum color, breathing pattern, wound appearance, pet's demeanor
- 5. Clear recommendation — go to ER now / monitor at home with these signs to watch for / book follow-up in 2-3 days
- 6. If Rx is appropriate, sent to your pharmacy same-day
Costs — urgent telehealth vs urgent in-person
- **RexVet urgent triage video visit** — $64.99 flat
- **In-person urgent care vet** — $85-175 exam fee before treatment
- **Emergency animal hospital exam** — $150-250 before treatment (typical FL/NY/VA metro)
- **BluePearl ER exam** — $175-275
- **When telehealth saves money** — If we can triage to "not an emergency, monitor at home" you save $100-200
- **When ER is essential** — Do NOT skip ER for a real emergency to save money. A missed emergency costs your pet's life.
What our DVMs can prescribe urgently by video
- **Anti-nausea** — Cerenia (maropitant) oral tablet
- **Pain relief** — Gabapentin (short-term), not opioids or NSAIDs first-line without prior labs
- **Anti-anxiety** — Trazodone (short course), Gabapentin
- **Allergy** — Apoquel oral tablet
- **Antibiotics** — Clavamox, doxycycline, cephalexin, metronidazole for confirmed infection presenting on video
- **Ear infection** — Topical otic drops
- **Skin infection** — Topical or oral antibiotic depending on severity
- **Not prescribable via video** — Injectable emergency meds (adrenaline, opioids for severe pain, IV antibiotics). Those require in-clinic administration.
About Dr. Tiffany Delacruz — Chief Executive Officer
RexVet video visits are led by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM, and our team of licensed DVMs. Dr. Tiffany is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Florida, New York, and Virginia. RexVet is a 501(c)(3) veterinary telehealth non-profit (Rex Vets Inc., EIN 33-2469898). We take triage responsibility seriously — we would rather send you to the ER for a false alarm than miss a real emergency.
Emergency signals
When to contact a veterinarian
- TRUE emergency (bloat, hit-by-car, respiratory distress, seizure, unconsciousness, poisoning, blockage) — go to a physical ER NOW
- Suspected toxin — ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 FIRST, then ER as directed
- Urgent-not-sure — RexVet $64.99 video triage can help you decide
Frequently asked questions
Can a video vet visit handle a real emergency?
No. For true emergencies — bloat, hit-by-car, respiratory distress, seizure lasting more than 2-3 min, unconsciousness, active bleeding, urinary blockage (male cat), heat stroke, or poisoning — go directly to a physical veterinary ER. Video visits cannot administer IV fluids, oxygen, imaging, or surgery.
How do I know if it's a real emergency vs urgent-not-emergency?
Broad signs of real emergency: blue/pale gums, labored breathing, unconsciousness, active bleeding, extreme distress. If you're not sure, call ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) if a toxin is possible, or drive to an ER while calling ahead. When in doubt about pet emergencies, err on the side of the ER — the cost of a wrong-call is much higher for you than an ER visit fee.
Can I book a video visit at 2am?
Availability is limited overnight — most video slots are during business hours + evenings. For overnight emergencies, go to a 24-hour emergency animal hospital. For overnight urgent-but-not-emergency questions, ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) is available 24/7 (call fee applies).
What if my pet just ate something they shouldn't have?
Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 FIRST. They will determine toxicity and either walk you through home care or direct you to the nearest ER. Do NOT induce vomiting without their guidance — some substances (bleach, sharp objects, hydrocarbons) cause more damage on the way back up.
Can you prescribe emergency antibiotics?
Yes, for confirmed infection visible on video (skin, ear, superficial wound). No — for suspected sepsis, systemic infection, or anything requiring bloodwork to confirm. Those cases need in-person + labs.
Do you take pet insurance for urgent visits?
Most pet insurance providers reimburse RexVet video visits (Trupanion, Nationwide, Embrace, ASPCA, Pets Best, MetLife, and 6+ others). Pay $64.99 by card, submit receipt to your insurance app for reimbursement in 5-14 business days.
What states does emergency triage cover?
Florida, New York, and Virginia. Our licensed DVMs can only prescribe for pets whose owners are physically located in FL, NY, or VA at the time of the visit. For emergencies outside these states, use your local emergency animal hospital.
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About the author
Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM
Chief Executive Officer, RexVet
Licensed veterinarian and CEO of RexVet (Rex Vets Inc.). Practicing across Florida, New York, and Virginia via licensed telehealth. Reviews every clinical article on RexVet before publication.