Despite being an essential part of responsible pet ownership, many people dread taking their beloved critter to the vet. Pet stress can make veterinary visits unpleasant for everyone involved, and result in clients becoming reluctant to book appointments for routine care.

Here’s what you can do to make visits to your veterinary practice less stressful for pets and clients alike.

Make Scheduling Veterinary Visits Easy

A stress-free visit starts before anyone even sets paw through the clinic door. In today’s busy world, it’s important to make it easy for pet parents to book appointments for their furry family members. With Next In Line scheduling software, your clients won’t have to remember to call during weekday office hours or wait on hold for a staff member – online scheduling is there for your clients 24/7, so they can check booking their pet’s exam off their to-do list when it’s most convenient. Best of all, Next In Line allows you to quickly notify clients of last-minute openings, which is handy for clients who want to get their pet in at the earliest opportunity.

Request a demo to see just how easy booking with Next In Line can be.

Reduce Pet Stress in the Waiting Room

A calm, inviting waiting room can make all the difference in ensuring a positive patient experience. While cleanliness is essential, a sterile-looking environment can be off-putting. Homey touches – such as posting pictures of regular patients or keeping a jar of dog treats handy – can go a long way towards putting clients and their pet’s at ease. Soothing music, comfortable chairs, and a friendly staff all contribute to a welcoming environment. It’s also a good idea to make sure that nervous cats and dogs don’t find themselves interacting more than they’d like to. Separate waiting areas would be ideal, but if that’s not possible then getting kitties into a quiet exam room quickly could help keep Mittens from becoming a tense little fuzzball of fury.

All that said, a best practice for your clinic’s waiting room is to keep waiting to a minimum! Next In Line’s real-time online booking technology makes it easy for clinics to customize appointment settings to reduce wait times and prevent overbooking. Next In Line also streamlines the check-in process by collecting basic information about the pet’s symptoms ahead of time, so each pet can be seen and treated quickly.

Make Preventative Care Routine

Routine preventive care is essential for the life-long wellness of a pet, and helps veterinarians diagnose and treat problems early – before they become both devastating and costly. According to a 2011 study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), veterinary visits have declined despite a significant increase in the number of pets in the United States. Sadly, there has also been a notable rise in preventable diseases among pets 1. Ensuring that visits to the vet are as simple and pleasant as possible not only improves client loyalty, it can actually save a pet’s life.

Educate clients on the importance of preventive care so veterinary visits aren’t limited to critical situations, and encourage them to quickly and easily book routine appointments online. Next In Line allows clinics to automatically send customized reminder messages via text and email at desired intervals. Not only does this drive down no-shows and tardiness, it frees up time for staff to spend on building rapport with clients and patients.

1 “2011 AAHA/AVMA Preventive Healthcare Guidelines.” AAHA Home, www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/preventive-healthcare/summary/.

 

Taking the stress out of veterinary visits is key to ensuring the lifetime wellness of pets and the trust of the clients who love them. If you’re ready to take the next step in reducing pet stress and increasing customer loyalty, contact us today for a demo.