The Chem 10 Blood test panel checks for diabetes, kidney function, liver function, some muscular diseases and some metabolic diseases. Plus an SDMA test that can detect kidney disease in cats and dogs months or years earlier than standard screening technologies.

As a yearly test the results set a baseline for your pets wellness allowing our vets to chart your pets health levels year on year and more easily identify any deviation that might point towards an underlying health condition. In their lifetime 1 in 3 cats and 1 in 10 dogs will get some form of kidney disease. The SDMA test means our vets can pick up any sign of kidney disease at the earliest possible stage meaning a better health outcome for your pet.

The free dental includes scaling to remove tartar build-up and a polish including dental radiographs plus a dental and gum health assessment. Corrective dental procedures can be expensive. An annual dental check that includes a scale and polish is designed to take preventative action before dental disease takes hold and expensive treatment and surgery are needed. If dental disease requiring more extensive action, such as dental extractions is identified Best Mates members receive 10% off these procedures. You will receive a full dental report at the time of your pet’s dental that identifies if any further action is required. Remember that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of dental disease by age 3!

No, after hours veterianry consultations are not included in the Best mates plan however, after hours Nurse Consultations with our Vetriage Team are included.

Free consultations apply to standard consultations. All consultations will require an appointment and are to be scheduled during normal clinic hours. The unlimited free consultations are not eligible during public holidays, after the clinics normal operating hours, house calls, veterinary specialist or behavioural consultations. In hospital exams during periods of hospitalisation are excluded.

Best Mates Members do not pay a consultation fee for the 4 x veterinary consultations and the unlimited nurse consultations however .where tests or medications or surgery are required then costs apply. But remember as a Best Mates member medications, pathology, surgery and hospital treatments all attract a 10% discount.

Where your pet passes away, members may contact the Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet Veterinary Clinic where the membership was purchased and the clinic will provide the member with a form to request a refund of membership fees. In such circumstances, members will be entitled to a reimbursement of the difference between the regular retail value of the goods and services obtained through the Best Mates Membership in that membership year and the total of the annual membership payment made by the member. If the value of the goods and services obtained exceeds the annual membership payment made, no refund will be applicable.

Best Mates membership may not be available at all Fur Life Vet clinics and where available not all services may be provided by the clinic. Please check directly with your local Fur Life Vet Clinic.

Unleashing your Best Mates® Annual Membership

Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vets are proud to offer our Best Mates® membership initiative offering annual memberships to participating clients and their selected Companion Animal. Your annual Best Mates Membership provides free, discounted and exclusive access to select veterinary services at participating Apiam Animal Health Veterinary Clinics.

Best Mates is Fur Life Vet’s preventative and protective healthcare program designed to keep your pet healthier and happier for longer. Best Mates is not a pet insurance plan, the annual membership program is designed to provide you with real savings across regular veterinary expenses such as vaccinations, desexing, dental work and medications.

By applying for membership, you demonstrate your acceptance of these terms and conditions and agree (jointly and severally if applicable) to be bound by these terms and conditions. If you do not agree, you should not apply for membership or accept any membership benefits.

What is included?

The current inclusions in our Best Mates Membership are listed within this document.  Inclusions are subject to change from time to time in our reasonable discretion.

Best Mates Membership benefits are valid at all participating Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet clinics throughout Australia. Not all clinics participate and not all offer all of the products and services included in the membership. You can check our participating clinics at https://www.furlifevet.com.au/bestmates/ and you are encouraged to check which of our included products and services they offer before purchasing your membership.

Discounts and benefits included in the Best Mates Membership cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or offers.

Who is covered?

Your Best Mates Membership covers 1 nominated Companion Animal per membership, defined as a domesticated canine or feline. Separate memberships must be purchased for each additional Companion Animal owned by a participating client (the ‘member’).

What will it cost?

The annual Best Mates Membership fee is $799.00 per pet/per year where a membership is paid in full and $820.00 per pet/per year where membership is paid in 12 monthly instalments.  Best Mates Membership fees are subject to change without notice however once your annual membership period has started, the same price will apply to you until the end of that membership year.

If for any reason, your account is in arrears, you will be liable to repay us for any debt collector and legal fees we incur in seeking your compliance with these terms and conditions.

How is payment made?

There are two options for payment. The first is to pay upfront. The second is to pay in 12 equal instalments each month of the annual membership by agreeing to a direct debit arrangement with our third party provider.

If you choose a direct debit arrangement, this will be administered by Apiam Animal Health using its third party provider. By providing us with your billing details, you consent to us disclosing those details to our third party provider. We also have additional terms and conditions which apply to direct debit arrangements which are attached as Annexure B and our third party provider may also require you to agree to their terms and conditions.

How long is the membership for?

Best Mates Memberships are taken out for set 12 month periods starting from the date of acceptance by us.  They will automatically rollover for subsequent 12 month periods unless you opt out as below.

A renewal notice will be sent to you by email at least 1 month prior to expiry of the annual membership. This renewal notice will specify the fee payable for the next membership year. If you do not wish to renew your membership for the next year, you will be required to cancel it at least 14 days before it automatically renews by following the prompts given to you in the email or by phoning your Fur Life Vet clinic.

It is your responsibility to provide a valid email contact and ensure it is monitored regularly as we will give you all notices about your membership by email.

What is not included?

Best Mates Memberships are designed for your Companion Animal for reasonable personal use and not for any commercial or on-sale purposes. Best Mates Memberships are subject to fair use as described below in this document.

How do I apply?

Please complete the application form provided by us and answer all questions accurately and completely. All memberships are subject to review and acceptance by Apiam Animal Health in our discretion.

How can I transfer my membership?

Best Mates Memberships may be transferred with the Companion Animal where they have been sold and the new owner agrees to the terms of the membership and takes on the obligation for payment. The new owner must complete the online form to notify the respective Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Veterinary Clinic of the change of ownership.

How can I cancel my membership?

Memberships are for set 12 month periods and cannot be cancelled early unless the following exception applies.

Where a Companion Animal passes away, members may contact the Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet Veterinary Clinic where the membership was purchased and the clinic will provide the member with a form to request a refund of membership fees. In such circumstances, members will be entitled to a reimbursement of the difference between the regular retail value of the goods and services obtained through the Best Mates Membership in that membership year and the total of the annual membership payment made by the member. If the value of the goods and services obtained exceeds the annual membership payment made, no refund will be applicable.

Memberships are not otherwise redeemable for cash, not able to be substituted, nor transferred. It is your responsibility to ensure you get fair value by accessing the inclusions offered.

Fair Use Policy

Best Mates members acknowledge that the membership benefits are limited to reasonable usage. Reasonable usage is defined as the ordinary and fair frequency of seeking professional support, products and services for the Companion Animal having regard to its age, health and other reasonable requirements and considerations as determined by the Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet in their professional discretion.

If the use is considered to be unreasonable, the vet may notify the member in writing that usage has become unreasonable. If the unreasonable usage continues, we may notify you that your membership has been terminated.

How can my membership be cancelled?

If you are in breach of the terms and conditions of the Best Mates Membership, or fail to pay any amount on its due date, we may suspend or cancel your membership at our discretion by providing you notice in writing to your email address.

For any period of suspension, you will not be able to obtain any membership benefits.

To resume your membership, you will be required to obtain our agreement which will require you to clear all arrears and other costs owed to us. You will not be able to claim reimbursement for any amounts paid by you during the suspension.

If your Best Mates Membership is suspended or cancelled part way through a membership year, you will still be liable to pay the remainder of the annual membership fee. This is because the benefits are not obtained evenly throughout the year and therefore our membership is only offered in annual packages. Suspension or cancellation of your membership is without prejudice to Apiam Animal Health’s rights to recover loss or damage associated with your breaches of these terms and conditions.

Can these terms be varied?

Apiam Animal Health may vary these terms and conditions at any time by placing notice on its website. If we materially impact the value of our Best Mates Membership by any changes to these terms or the inclusions, we will send you an email and give you a reasonable opportunity to cancel your membership before those changes take effect.

What if I have a question or concerns?

Please contact your local Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Veterinary Clinic to resolve all questions and concerns about your membership.

What other terms apply?

All of our products and services are subject to our usual terms and conditions, availability, exclusions, limitations of liability and professional standards. You will be required to accept those additional terms and conditions at the time of accepting those membership benefits.

Further details can be obtained from your local Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet.

The Best Mates Program is not pet insurance. By becoming a member of the Best Mates Program you are not obtaining pet insurance coverage.

This agreement includes all terms and supersedes all other representations and understandings relating to the subject matter. Any illegal or enforceable provisions are to be severed without affecting the remainder of this agreement.

Terms and conditions are current as of 1^st July 2024 and governed by the laws in Victoria, Australia.

Annexure A – Inclusions

As at 1^st July 2024, Best Mates Membership includes the following services and benefits:

FREE Consultations.

Four standard 20 minute consultations with a vet are provided free of charge.

Unlimited standard 20 minute consultations are provided free of charge with a nurse.

All consultations are subject to availability, will require an appointment and are to be scheduled during normal clinic hours.

The unlimited free consultations are not available on public holidays, outside the clinic’s normal operating hours, for house calls, for veterinary specialist or behavioural consultations. In hospital exams during periods of hospitalisation are excluded. Also excludes behaviour, nutrition, MSK, rehab evaluation, rehab/hydro/pool consults.

Where tests, medications or surgery are required then costs will apply.

FREE Vaccinations

Vaccinations included are the entire course of Annual vaccinations that would normally be prescribed for your Companion Animal using recognised vaccination protocols taking into account the age and breed of the Companion Animal.

It does not include any additional or precautionary vaccinations based on health, vaccination history or individual conditions or vulnerabilities of the Companion Animal. The vaccinations prescribed are to be determined by the Apiam Animal Health veterinarian in their professional discretion. Vaccinations that may be prescribed as part of this program provide protection against the following diseases:

Canine: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and bordetella bronchiseptica.

Feline: Feline Immunodeficiency virus, Feline enteritis, Panleukopaenia, Herpesvirus, Calicivirus and Chlamydiosis.

Rabies vaccination is excluded.

FREE Microchip (one)

Companion Animals are entitled to one FREE microchip If they have not previously been microchipped.

FREE 10 Point Blood Health Screen & SDMA Test

Included in the blood test is the IDEXX Chem 10 and the SDMA kidney function test. Membership provides for one test during the annual membership period.

FREE Dental or FREE Desexing or FREE annual flea/tick/heartworm/intestinal worm control

Membership provides for either one FREE dental scale and polish performed by a veterinarian or a FREE standard desexing or free annual flea, tick and heartworm injections and 4 intestinal worm treatments  (no more than one of these benefits) in a membership year. Normal surcharges will apply where the animal is presented as overweight, in season, with retained testicles or pregnant. Surcharges will attract a 10% discount. Excludes alternative desexing methods such as Laparoscopic Spey, Hysterectomy, Vasectomy, but INCLUDES annual chemical castration using Sprelorin

Discounted Medications & Professional Services

Members are entitled to a 10% discount on the following professional services: surgery, imagery, diagnostics, anaesthetics, surgical procedures, hospital treatment and prescribed medications performed by an Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Veterinarian at a participating Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet Clinic during a membership year.

Discounted Parasite Control

A 15% discount applies to the purchase of parasite control products including the Proheart SR12 injection where the participating Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet clinic normally stocks and retails parasite control products during active membership.

Discounted Food & Merchandise

15% discount on all food and merchandise normally stocked or retailed through the participating Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet Clinic during a membership year.

Unlimited FREE nail trims

Unlimited Free nail trims performed by an Apiam Animal Health employee at a participating Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet clinic during a membership year.

Discounted Grooming

A 20% discount applies to standard grooming services where the participating Apiam Animal Health Fur Life Vet Clinic provides a grooming service.

Free Afterhours Nurse Consults provided by Apiam Triage Services

Members will have access to after hours nurse consults through Apiam’s after hours triage service.

Discounts and benefits included in the Best Mates Membership cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts or offers and are not suitable for commercial use or on sale of any membership benefits.