Among the pet tech boom lies a workforce gamechanger
For many people, pets are no longer just animals but integral members of the family. Forty percent of owners say their pets benefit their family’s mental health, while 30% of couples choose to have them before children. These shifts in household dynamics are quietly reshaping how people live, care and prioritise.
The rise of the digital pet economy
As pet ownership has grown, so has a wave of digital tools designed to support modern pet parents. On-demand walking and sitting platforms continue to expand, especially since the post-pandemic return to office-based work. Emergency pet care apps provide a safety net during unexpected travel, illness or family commitments.
Meanwhile, support for pet loss is now embedded into many online counselling platforms, reflecting the emotional role pets play in people’s lives. Smart devices such as pet cameras and automated feeders offer peace of mind during the working day.
Additionally, wearables can monitor health data and studies show that 80% of missing pets with GPS tracking collars are successfully reunited with their owners.
The hidden workplace cost
Despite this growing ecosystem of handy apps and technology, a critical statistic remains: 23% percent of sick days in the UK are used for pet care. This represents a significant hidden cost to businesses.
Employees frequently feel they have no option but to use personal sick leave to manage situations that fall outside traditional benefits. The impact is not limited to absence alone. Stress, distraction and financial pressure all affect focus, engagement and overall wellbeing.
Why veterinary care is the real pressure point
While general pet apps have a useful role to play, they do not address the primary reason pet owners are pulled away from work: veterinary care. When a pet becomes unwell, owners are often forced to step away from their role, absorb rising costs and wait anxiously for appointments.
Vet bills have increased by 63% over the past seven years. Unlike human healthcare, there is no NHS for pets, and the veterinary industry is under significant strain. The result is a perfect storm of worry, cost and disruption that inevitably spills into working life.
The telemedicine solution
Telemedicine is already changing how people approach pet health in the same way it has transformed human healthcare. Vet-AI has seen around 70% of cases resolved remotely using app-based video calls and live chat without the need for an in-person vet visit, if it is not necessary. For employees, this removes the immediate need to take time off work, travel to a clinic or sit with prolonged uncertainty.
Remote consultations allow owners to connect with qualified vets within minutes, wherever they are, 24/7. Pets can be assessed in their natural environment, concerns discussed calmly and appropriate guidance given.
Often, what people really want is a quick solution and telemedicine can provide this whether a dog has been injured on a weekend when clinics are closed, or a family cat’s troublesome ear infection can be treated with a simple remote prescription. Employees can then go to work feeling confident that everything at home is under control, or use the service on their phone to get advice during a lunch break.
Technology is changing pet care, not just through video calls, but also via AI-powered triage systems to guide owners onto the right care pathway alongside digital health checks using images and videos uploaded by owners.
Worryingly, 44% of owners say they consult online resources for their pet’s health, which includes ‘Dr Google’ and Large Language Models such as ChatGPT and Gemini, making vet supervised tools even more important against a landscape of misinformation.
By offering access to professional veterinary care, employers demonstrate their commitment to supporting both people and their pets, without breaking the bank.
What employers should look for in a telemedicine provider
For pet telemedicine to be an effective benefit, access must be low friction and the experience should be user friendly, preferably accessible in just a few taps. Today’s employees expect instant, intuitive support and engagement will suffer if a benefit is difficult to use.
Clinical rigour is equally important. Technology should enable professional care, not replace it, and platforms must be backed by qualified, regulated veterinary professionals.
Other important criteria include integration with existing employee benefits portals, scalability to serve a growing workforce, transparent pricing, and a truly 24/7 service as pet health concerns do not always follow office hours. Employers should also value actionable data insights such as usage trends.
Finally, the strongest providers will have a genuine focus on preventative care, combining education, early intervention and access to everyday products that keep pets healthier from day one.
Final thoughts
When employers recognise pets as part of modern family life, the return is tangible. Offering access to tech-enabled pet benefits helps reduce unplanned absence, eases financial and emotional stress, and allows employees to stay focused when it matters most.
Benefits that reflect how people live and use technology to manage their lives build trust, improve wellbeing and strengthen retention. Supporting pets through smart, accessible tools is a frequently underestimated way of supporting people.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, Vet-AI
Reducing employee absenteeism and financial stress with 24/7 online vet care.
