Privacy Policy

At Dogster Ask a Vet (accessible from askavet.dogster.com), one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by Dogster and how we use it.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide better services to our users. The types of information we collect include:

A. Information You Provide Directly

• Personal Identification: When you submit a question, we collect your First Name and Email Address. We do not collect your last name or phone number for this service.
• Pet Information: We collect details about your pet, including name, age, breed, weight, medical history, and symptoms.
• Content and Media: We collect the text of your question and any photos you choose to upload.

B. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

• Log Data: IP address, browser type, browser version, and the pages you visit.
• Cookies: We use cookies to store information about visitor preferences and to optimize the user experience.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect in various ways, including to:

• Provide the Service: To allow our veterinarians to review your pet's details and provide a relevant answer.
• Communication: To send you an email notification when your question has been answered.
• Website Improvement: To understand and analyze how you use our website and to develop new products, services, features, and functionality.
• Marketing: To display your question and our vet's answer publicly as educational content for other pet owners.

3. Third-Party Service Providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals due to the following reasons:

• Google Firebase: We use Firebase for hosting, database storage, and authentication services.
• SendGrid: We use SendGrid to deliver transactional emails (such as answer notifications).
• Cloudflare: We use Cloudflare Turnstile for spam protection and security.
• Google Gemini API: We use artificial intelligence to help summarize question titles.

These third parties have access to your Personal Information only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

4. Data Retention

We will retain your Personal Information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your information to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our policies. Content published on the site (Questions & Answers) may remain publicly visible indefinitely as an educational resource.

5. Children's Information

Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. Dogster does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13.

6. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. Thus, we advise you to review this page periodically for any changes. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us through our contact us page.