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  5. Arizona
James Tuttle

Dr. James Tuttle

Veterinarian, DVM
5.0
1 review
License verified

Professional information

Designation
  • Veterinarian, DVM
Licenses
  • Arizona, US
  • Utah, US
  • Idaho, US
  • Missouri, US
  • Kansas, US
About Vet

Hi there, I'm Dr. Tuttle — an emergency veterinarian with five years of experience in specialty and referral hospitals,

I graduated from Washington State University, then completed a one-year small animal rotating internship focused on emergency and critical care, followed by a second one-year surgical internship focused on orthopedics and oncological surgery. That combination means I'm especially comfortable talking through urgent questions, post-operative concerns, recovery expectations after surgery, and treatment decisions for pets facing a cancer diagnosis. If your regular vet or a specialist has recommended surgery and you'd like a second set of eyes or just want help understanding what's ahead, I'm happy to walk through it with you.

ONLINE VETERINARY CARE: WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO: Please read this before booking a consultation. So you know what to expect, here is how online veterinary care works, what I am legally able to do, and why.

THE VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP (VCPR): Before any veterinarian can diagnose a condition, recommend a treatment, or prescribe medication for your animal, the law in all states requires a valid VCPR. A VCPR exists only when a veterinarian has enough first-hand knowledge of your specific animal to make safe medical judgments, when you have agreed to follow the veterinarian's guidance, and when the veterinarian is available for follow-up.

This is not just paperwork. Without a valid VCPR, I cannot responsibly diagnose or prescribe - and doing so would be both unsafe and unlawful. Both state law and federal law (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) require a valid VCPR before a prescription can be issued.

TWO KINDS OF HELP I CAN OFFER:

  1. General advice and triage - available to everyone, no exam required. I can discuss husbandry, diet, housing, and behavior; talk through your concerns; help you decide whether your animal needs to be seen and how urgently; and review records from another veterinarian. I cannot diagnose a specific condition or prescribe medication in this lane.

  2. Telemedicine (diagnosis, treatment, and prescriptions) - available only when a valid VCPR exists. Some states allow the establishment of a VCPR over telemedicine; however, many do not. If your state’s laws do not allow me to establish a VCPR via telemedicine, I will not be able to diagnose, provide specific treatment recommendations, or prescriptions.

WHERE I AM LICENSED - STATE RULES:

  • Utah, Missouri, and Kansas: A VCPR must be established by an in-person examination. A video visit alone cannot create one, so a new prescription requires a prior hands-on exam.
  • Arizona and Idaho: State law may allow a VCPR to be established by video in limited circumstances. Even then, this supports only on-label, non-controlled medications (in Arizona, generally up to a 14-day supply with one refill before an in-person exam is required).
  • Controlled substances: I cannot prescribe these through telemedicine without an in-person examination, in any state.

EXOTIC ANIMALS (BIRDS, REPTILES, SMALL MAMMALS): Very few medications are FDA-approved for exotic species, so nearly every drug used in exotic patients is prescribed "off-label." Federal law requires a VCPR established by an in-person examination for any off-label prescription, and it does not allow that relationship to be created by video. As a result, for almost all exotic patients, I cannot prescribe through an online visit unless I have already examined your animal in person. This is true in every state, regardless of the state rules below.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: If your animal may need a prescription and I have not examined it in person, please expect that I may need to recommend an in-person visit. I am not trying to be difficult - I am following the law and protecting your animal's safety & my license.

Location
  • Tucson, AZ, US
Spoken languages
  • English
Species treated
  • Fish
  • Reptiles & Amphibians
  • Small Mammals
  • Birds (Avian)
  • Dogs (Canine)
  • Cats (Feline)
  • Other Exotics
Areas of interest
  • End of life/Hospice care
  • Endocrinology
  • Neurology
  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Preventive
  • Ophthalmology
  • Neurology
  • Toxicology
  • Sports Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Dermatology
  • Radiology
  • Behavior
  • Anesthesia
  • Emergency
  • Cardiology
  • Oncology
  • Orthopedics
  • Immunology
  • Pathology
  • Soft Tissue
  • Ophthalmology
Capabilities
  • Consult on diet, nutrition & exercise
  • Consult on general health & wellness
  • Consult on behavioral issues
  • Navigating nutrition from the new baby to the senior pet
  • Optimizing your new puppy or kitten experience
  • Tips and tricks on pet grooming techniques
  • Pet training, house training and litter box training

Book an online appointment with Dr. Tuttle in 3 easy steps!

  • Choose your vet and book an appointment.
  • Join the video call with the vet you chose along with your pet.
  • Get personalized care, treatment and answers to all of your questions.

5.0
1 review

R

Rain

July 2026

We are always reluctant when it comes to vets. Our babygirl is a pit bull and not many are fond of the breed and at times seem to not care. That wasn’t the case with Dr. Tuttle. He listened and Ahmad already reviewed her records Ali g with the images we sent before we even got on the video call. It was nice to see the knowledge of the breed and the true compassion shown for our girl. Thank you Dr. Tuttle.

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