Having a Plan Can Help Drive Preventive Pet Healthcare

Partners for Healthy Pets is an alliance of more than 20 leading veterinary associations and animal health companies committed to a vision of improved overall health for pets. As an associate member, The Vet Gazette will be regularly posting updates. Check back on Friday for another post and visit thier website to learn more!

The cost of veterinary care often carries with it a certain level of sticker shock for pet owners. But there are ways to help ease your clients’ financial pain. When it comes to preventive care, we can find ways to make sure pets stay healthy while also making it easier for pet owners to afford that care.

As we all know, dogs and cats are visiting the veterinarian less frequently, and their health status shows it. A recent report indicated that preventable and treatable health issues such as diabetes, dental disease, heartworm disease and flea infestations in both dogs and cats are on the rise. This problem is no doubt a source of great frustration to you and other veterinarians. But there is a promising solution that has solid appeal among many pet owners: Preventive healthcare plans.

A preventive healthcare plan is a comprehensive package of annual veterinary services aimed at keeping a pet healthy that includes a little extra pet-owner incentive that you can provide – the choice between a monthly payment plan or lump-sum payment. These plans typically include one or more complete physical exams for routine well care, essential vaccines, certain diagnostics such as heartworm tests and blood work, and internal parasite control.

While the use of preventive healthcare plans may represent a significant change in your business approach, it also pays dividends to everyone involved – you, the pet and the pet owner.

First, pets get better, more dependable care. Instead of the current hit-or-miss approach by many clients, pet owners commit to a program; pets get the care they need, when they need it. The frequency of visits also increases, so you have an opportunity to see pets more often and catch problems early.

We also can’t underestimate the importance of how much each of us likes a plan, and that includes pet owners. Monthly payments for preventive pet care can be worked into their household budget, eliminating the pain and strain associated with a “big ticket” hit to the pocketbook. Preventive pet healthcare plans spell out both the treatment plan and the payment plan.

Thirdly, preventive healthcare plans bond clients more closely to the practice. Because they have a plan and agree to pay for the year’s services, they are more diligent and conscientious about scheduling required services. A nice added bonus is that clients differentiate your practice as a more client-friendly business, willing to reach across the counter with a show of understanding and patience when it comes to paying that bill.

To some pet owners, it seems like there’s never a good time to squeeze a veterinary visit into their regular expenses, especially when they may feel that the service is somewhat discretionary. With a preventive healthcare plan, we can help change that, making it easier on pet owners and making it better for the pet.

Among the valuable practice tools available to you through Partners for Healthy Pets is guidance on the evaluation, selection, and implementation of preventive healthcare plans.   These plans, as well as the other components of the Partners’ Practice Resources Toolbox, will help enhance both the overall vitality of pets and your veterinary practice.

So visit the Preventive Healthcare Plans tool today. You’ll find a helpful overview introducing you to the concept, as well as some pretty powerful testimonials from veterinarians just like you who have already implemented the plan and like the results. You’ll learn how to design a plan best suited for your individual practice, and our Preventive Healthcare Plan Implementation Manual will take you through a step-by-step process of setting up plans, integrating them into your practice, marketing them to clients and training your staff.

Partners for Healthy Pets is dedicated to ensuring that pets received the preventive healthcare they deserve through regular visits to a veterinarian and is committed to working with you to enhance the health of your patients and your practice. Learn more about Partners for Healthy Pets and explore the Resources Toolbox at www.partnersforhealthypets.org

Comments

[dental instruments]

wow nice thank share the good post...

[Alexander Conner]

Pet insurance is really very often used by Pet owner. but now a days pet insurance is very beneficial for finanaical purpose. I know that pet insurance in quite expensive. specially for those owner who has Pit bull. But pet insurance give benefits in Medical field and other disease.