Physician-Founded AI Health Platform ASTRID Adds Free Veterinary Companion, Bringing Pet Health Guidance to 65+ Countries

With emergency vet costs averaging up to $1,500 and the majority of pet owners delaying care due to cost, ASTRID offers round-the-clock AI health information for dogs, cats, and other companion animals at no charge

“Pets are part of the family, and families shouldn’t have to face a health scare alone at 2 AM because there’s nowhere to turn.” — Samir Qamar, MD, Founder and CEO of AstroDoc, Inc.

LAS VEGAS, NV — AstroDoc, Inc. today announced the worldwide availability of a free Veterinary AI Companion on its ASTRID platform (AI System for Trusted Healthcare Resources and Informed Decisions). The browser-based tool helps pet owners assess their animal’s symptoms, understand when professional veterinary attention is warranted, and access structured health information at any hour of the day or night. It is available now at myastrid.ai with no app installation, no account creation, and no fee.

With this release, ASTRID becomes the first AI health information platform to offer structured guidance across both human and veterinary domains within a single product, free of charge. The Veterinary AI Companion does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe, and is not a replacement for licensed veterinary care.

Pet Ownership Is Surging. Access to Guidance Is Not.

Global pet ownership has reached an extraordinary scale. Approximately 900 million dogs and 600 million cats are kept as companion animals around the world. In the United States, 71% of households own at least one pet — approximately 94 million homes, according to the American Pet Products Association. Annual U.S. spending on pet care surpasses $150 billion.

The financial barriers to veterinary care, however, remain steep. A single emergency veterinary visit in the U.S. ranges from $800 to $1,500 on average, with complex procedures exceeding $5,000. Veterinary costs have climbed 43% since 2020, outpacing general inflation by a wide margin, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A 2025 PetSmart Charities–Gallup study found that more than half of U.S. pet owners (52%) have skipped or declined veterinary care in the past year, with 71% identifying cost as the primary obstacle.

AI-driven health tools have proliferated rapidly in human medicine over the past two years. The veterinary space, by contrast, has seen almost no comparable development — leaving pet owners with few reliable options for health information outside of office hours or between scheduled appointments.

How the Veterinary AI Companion Works

ASTRID’s Veterinary AI Companion uses a structured question framework to walk pet owners through what they’re observing, what those signs might indicate, and whether a veterinary visit is warranted. The tool is designed to complement professional veterinary medicine, not to replace it.

•  Guided Symptom Assessment: Structured questions help owners identify and describe what their dog, cat, or other companion animal is experiencing.

•  Urgency Guidance: General information on which signs warrant prompt veterinary attention versus continued observation at home.

•  Species and Breed Awareness: Health information informed by veterinary knowledge across multiple species and breeds.

•  Voice and Text Interaction: Full conversational support through both voice and text, accessible from any browser.

•  Zero Barriers to Entry: No download, no account, no cost. Available 24/7 in every country where ASTRID operates.

From Medical to Veterinary: Expanding a Global Footprint

ASTRID’s Medical AI Companion went live in late February 2026 and has since reached users in more than 65 countries with zero paid acquisition. The Veterinary AI Companion extends the platform’s reach to encompass the full household, offering health guidance for people and their pets through a single product.

The company has confirmed that a Dental AI Companion is expected to follow later this month, and additional language support — beginning with Spanish — is planned for the near term, broadening access for non-English-speaking users worldwide.

“As a physician and a dog owner, I’ve had the same late-night panic every pet owner knows,” said Dr. Samir Qamar, Founder and CEO of AstroDoc, Inc. “We built this because we wanted health guidance for the whole family, including the members who never leave your side.”

Important Information

ASTRID’s Veterinary AI Companion provides general health information and educational guidance for pet owners. It does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any animal condition and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Pet owners should consult a licensed veterinarian for any health concerns regarding their animals.

About AstroDoc, Inc. and ASTRID

ASTRID (AI System for Trusted Healthcare Resources and Informed Decisions) is a global AI health information platform developed by AstroDoc, Inc., a U.S. health technology company. The platform delivers free, clinician-informed health information across medical and veterinary domains, with dental capabilities forthcoming. ASTRID is LLM-agnostic, HIPAA- and GDPR-compliant, and accessible from any web browser.

Availability

The ASTRID Veterinary AI Companion is available now, worldwide, at no cost. No downloads, no app installation, and no account required.

Website: myastrid.ai

Media Contact

AstroDoc Media

AstroDoc, Inc.

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