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Lead by a Vet
A vet, his mum, and three very opinionated pets. Ask A Vet was founded by Dr. Duncan Houston, with business brains from his mum Margaret and daily chaos courtesy of Gary the cat, Bridie the golden, and little Kiko. Together, they’re on a mission to make pet care smarter, kinder, and fluffier.
About the Team and Not Just Me
Ask A Vet was created to make trusted veterinary care accessible, proactive, and personal—anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s your pet at home or livestock in the field, our platform is designed to detect early warning signs, support real-time decision-making, and connect owners with vets who care. Built by veterinarians, for animals and the people who love them.
Why Trust Us
About Me, Dr. Duncan Houston
Hi, I’m Dr. Duncan Houston—an international emergency and GP veterinarian, and the founder of Ask A Vet, Woopf, and Purrz.
I graduated from the University of Sydney in 2017, and since then, I’ve worked across every corner of the veterinary world—from mobile house calls and rural farms to some of the largest specialist hospitals in Australia and Hong Kong. My work has spanned emergency medicine, exotics, production animals, and general practice. No matter the role, one thing has stayed the same: my commitment to giving animals the care they deserve.
Ask A Vet began during one of the hardest chapters of my life. After undergoing major surgery, I was bedridden for nearly eight months. I couldn’t practice, but I could think. I could design. And so, the idea for a smarter, more connected animal care system began. One where pet owners and vets collaborate with better tools, earlier insights, and real-time support.
And about my mum, Margaret Houston
Every great startup has someone behind the scenes making the impossible happen. For Ask A Vet, that person is Margaret Houston—our CFO, COO, and yes, my mum.
Margaret isn’t just a spreadsheet wizard and operations powerhouse—she’s the reason this business is alive today. Over the past five years, we’ve hit wall after wall trying to bring this vision to life. From failed development teams to delayed launches and never-ending tech challenges, there were moments when it would’ve been easier to give up. But Margaret didn’t let that happen.
With unwavering belief and way too many late-night calls, she stepped in as a major investor, voice of reason, and strategic lead—especially when things got tough. When I was working long emergency shifts to fund the dream, she was there making sure the lights stayed on, the finances were solid, and the business kept moving forward.
Our Mission is to make animal care smarter, simpler, and always accessible
Whether for a puppy, a parrot, or a pregnant goat!
Pet Owners
Built for everyday pet parents who want peace of mind. Ask A Vet gives you 24/7 access to trusted veterinary advice, health tracking tools, and lost pet protection — all in one simple app.
Farmers
Designed for those who care for livestock and working animals. Get expert vet support, access to veterinary AI technology and coming soon, health and GPS tracking hardware made to work on the farm — no matter the size of the herd.
Veterinarians
A digital companion for vets and clinics. Collaborate with pet owners through secure consultations, share records instantly, access to personalised health monitoring for your own clients as well as the ability to work with the most up to date veterinary AI software.
Animal Charities
Support animal welfare with tools that help monitor health, share care updates, and ensure safe rehoming. We are working with several charitable businesses and companies to make sure that we give back to the animals that give us so much.
Watch This Space — We’re Just Getting Started
Ask A Vet is more than an app. It’s the beginning of a global animal care ecosystem—built by vets, powered by data, and driven by purpose. With new features, new partnerships, and even smarter tools on the way, we’re just getting started.
Watch this space — because the future of animal care starts here. I’m not stopping!
Tips, Tricks & Tails
From cozy naps to playful paws — explore expert advice, fun stories, and everything in between!
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