Ask A Vet asks for a permission only when a feature needs it, and each one is optional. Here's what every request is for, in the app's own words, and what stops working if you decline.
Jump to:
- The permissions and their reasons
- When you'll be asked
- What's different on Android
- What Ask A Vet deliberately doesn't ask for
- Changing your mind later
The permissions and their reasons
| Permission | What it's for, in the app's own words | If you say no |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | "We use Bluetooth to configure your device and connect to your pet's GPS tracker." | You can't pair a tracker, and the app can't reach the collar when it's nearby. Tracker setup and any Bluetooth features won't work. |
| Location | "The app needs your location to suggest nearby veterinary clinics for your convenience." — and, for tracking, to show you and your pet on the same map, including walks and live tracking. | You can't see yourself on the tracker map, walks can't be recorded, and nearby clinic suggestions won't work. |
| Camera | "The app requires access to your camera to scan QR tags and take photos for chatting with veterinarians." | You'll have to pick existing photos from your library instead. |
| Microphone | "The app needs your microphone to record audio and video clips you send in chat with veterinarians." | — |
| Photos | "The app needs access to your photo library to upload pet profile images and share photos in chat with veterinarians." It's also how you attach photos to a support request. | — |
| Notifications | Asked for after you log in, so alerts about your pet can reach your phone: tracker alarms, reminders, chat messages and booking updates. | No push notifications will arrive until you enable notifications for Ask A Vet in your phone's settings. |
Please note: The app only ever asks for "while using the app" location, on both iPhone and Android. Ask A Vet also asks to save photos and videos you capture in chat back to your library so you can reuse them later.
When you'll be asked
Most prompts appear the first time you open the feature that needs them — for example, the clinics map asks for location the first time you open it.
Important: the notification prompt appears after you log in, not when you first launch the app. If you decline it, the app stops there and no push notifications will ever arrive until you enable notifications for Ask A Vet in your phone's settings.
What's different on Android
- Location is requested as precise location.
- Bluetooth scan and Bluetooth connect are separate permissions, and only exist on Android 12 and newer. On older Android versions there's nothing to grant.
- Notifications is a separate permission on Android 13 and newer — that dialog is what you'll see after logging in.
- Photos uses Android's Selected photos access on Android 14 and newer — you pick which pictures the app can see. On Android 13 and older, the app opens the system photo picker instead and asks for nothing.
- Ask A Vet also uses Android's foreground-service permissions so walks and live tracking can keep running while you use another app.
Bluetooth Low Energy hardware is required for the GPS tracker to work with your phone.
What Ask A Vet deliberately doesn't ask for
- Background location on Android. Walks always start while the app is open, so the app never needs access to your location when you aren't using it.
- Access to your whole photo gallery on newer Android versions — only the photos you choose.
Changing your mind later
Every permission can be granted or revoked in your phone's settings at any time.
| Phone | Where to change it |
|---|---|
| iPhone/iPad | Settings → Privacy & Security → (Camera / Photos / Microphone / Location Services / Bluetooth) → Ask A Vet |
| Android | Settings → Apps → Ask A Vet → Permissions |
If you previously blocked something, the app can't ask again — it will offer to open your phone's settings instead.
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