Walmart+ members now enjoy free, unlimited access to Pawp’s telehealth service for pet owners, the retail giant announced Wednesday (May 22). This new benefit follows a successful pilot program where Pawp emerged as Walmart+’s most popular limited-time offer of 2023.
“This new benefit illustrates our continued evolution as we strive to provide seamless, time-saving, and affordable solutions tailored to our members’ needs,” said Venessa Yates, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart+, in the press release.
Pawp’s digital health clinic and telehealth platform connect pet owners with veterinary professionals 24/7 via text and video, offering second opinions and general guidance. Walmart+ members can now utilize this service at no charge, enjoying unlimited on-demand virtual visits, personalized post-visit care plans, and product recommendations.
Marc Atiyeh, CEO of Pawp, emphasized the platform’s mission to make pet care convenient and accessible. “We’re excited to deepen this relationship by incorporating Pawp as an ongoing, first-of-its-kind pet health benefit for Walmart+ and look forward to supporting Walmart+ members with their pets’ care for years to come,” Atiyeh stated.
In a related development, Walmart launched its first pet services center in September 2023, located in Dallas, Georgia. The center offers routine veterinary care, grooming, and a self-serve dog wash within a dedicated storefront. Walmart also operates over 65 in-store vet clinics across the country, managed by PetIQ, and plans to use the new center as a pilot for potential expansion.
Meanwhile, Petco reported in November 2023 that it has seen double-digit growth in its pet healthcare services sector and is aiming to expand its offerings. At that time, Petco operated 282 full-service veterinary hospitals, averaging 14,181 veterinary clinics per week.
Pet supply subscriptions rank among the top segments in consumer sign-up and retention within the subscription industry, trailing only household supplies, according to the “Subscription Commerce Readiness Report: The Loyalty Factor,” a PYMNTS Intelligence and sticky.io collaboration.
