> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.vetcove.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Rate limits

> To ensure fair usage and maintain system performance, we enforce limits on how much an organization can use this API. These limits help prevent misuse and manage capacity effectively.

## How our limits work

* Each application has a default limit of **200 requests per minute**.
* If you exceed this limit, the API will return a [429 Too Many Requests](https://developer.vetcove.com/overview/errors.md) error.
* The `Retry-After` header in the response indicates the numbers of seconds you should wait until you can safely retry your request.

## Handling rate limit errors

If your application exceeds the allowed request rate, follow these best practices:

**1. Check for 429 Too Many Requests Response**

When you receive a `429` error, inspect the response headers for the `Retry-After` value, which tells you how many seconds to wait before retrying.

**2. Implement Exponential Backoff**

Instead of retrying immediately, use an exponential backoff strategy to reduce the risk of further rate limit violations.

**3. Optimize API Usage**

* Reduce redundant or unnecessary API calls by caching frequently requested data
* Use [webhooks](https://developer.vetcove.com/overview/webhooks.md) instead of polling to get real-time updates efficiently

## Increasing your rate limit

If your use case requires a higher rate limit, please reach out to us with details about your application's needs. You can contact us at **[dev-support@vetcove.com](mailto:dev-support@vetcove.com)** to discuss potential adjustments.